Baltimore FD boosts EMS funding in proposed $362M budget as OT, costs climb

By Carson Swick

Baltimore Sun

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore City Council’s final task on Thursday was to consider a $362 million proposed budget for the Baltimore City Fire Department, an agency that has racked up big deficits from employee overtime prompted by staffing shortages in recent years.

The $362 million proposal for the 2026 fiscal year represents a 10.7% increase from the $327 million in funding allocated to BCFD last year. “Fire Suppression and Emergency Rescue” and “Emergency Medical Services” are among the individual services to see the largest increases.

Of that $362 million, $339 million will now come from the city’s general fund — a reflection of the decision to eliminate the EMS special fund and transfer all $75 million in expected EMS revenue to the general fund. The