CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cheyenne Fire Rescue is requesting a total of $14,627,656 for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year.
On Thursday, Cheyenne Fire Rescue Chief John Kopper discussed his department’s funding requests for the fiscal year 2025 budget. This year, the city has proposed a $147.6 million budget. Several city departments, including Community Recreation & Events, the Mayor’s Office, the Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Fire Rescue, have been expressing their budget requests throughout the past week.
After the city completes budget discussions with every department, the final proposed budget will appear before the Cheyenne City Council. Councilmembers will vote for or against the budget at the council’s May 28 meeting for its second hearing. Then, the governing body will vote for a final time at its June 10 meeting.
Administration and Fire Prevention
This year, the administration’s budget decreased by $60,312, Kopper said. This reason is because the department has reclassified its administrative assistant position, a role that now operates inside the Fire Prevention Division. The administrative assistant now functions under the title of community risk reduction coordinator. This new hybrid position was created as a result of community feedback.
“The number-one concern or issue addressed by external stakeholders, with community business owners and response partners, was community outreach,” Kopper said.
Other minor cost increases to administration expenses include advertising, telecommunications and printing.
The Fire Prevention Division’s budget increased by $170,613 for the upcoming fiscal year for a total of $965,609. A majority of this figure comes from increased payroll changes, as well as the salary for the new community risk position.
Fire Support
This division of CFR comprises department training, infrastructure and fleet oversight, and health and safety, Kopper said. Overall, the fire chief is requesting $447,914 for Fire Support, which is an increase of $31,644 compared to fiscal year 2024.
The funding would increase the division’s overtime budget, which would help enable CFR to host additional training academies at its facilities, Kopper said.
Fire Operations
The Fire Operations Division comprises most of CFR’s employees, 89 personnel, and a significant portion of the department’s budget, Kopper said. For fiscal year 2025, CFR is requesting $11,852,539 for this division, which is $761,199 higher than last year’s budget. The majority of the funding increase comes down to contract negotiations and cost-of-living adjustments for employees.
The following changes also impact the budget’s funding:
- Reclassification of three probationary firefighter positions to three lieutenant positions. The alterations will help with staffing management and shift flexibility, Kopper said.
- An increase of $30,000 to the overtime budget.
- An addition of $42,000 to purchase seven replacement thermal imaging cameras.
- An addition of $75,000 to the fleet fuel, labor and parts budget for a new fire apparatus.
- A rise in gas and electric costs of just under $20,000.
To access the city’s entire proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, click here.
