By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

At a meeting last week, the Berlin Fire Company and Berlin Fire Company Emergency Medical Services outlined their funding amounts for the next budget.

For BFC and BFC EMS, the total request for operations and capital will be $1,055,000 for fiscal year 2026 compared to approximately $699,000 included in this year’s budget.

The BFC’s specific request for fire operations is $205,000 plus $150,000 for capital for a total of $355,000. Last year, the town funded $200,000 for operations.

For the BFC EMS, the request is for $625,000 in operations plus $75,000 for capital. Last year, the town funded $484,000 for EMS operations. The town has also committed to a $15,000 fire and EMS capital allocation associated with casino revenues for three years.

Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall noted that this year’s funding request is an over $350,000 increase to what was allocated to the services in the previous budget.

“Last year, our budget amount was $699,000,” he said. “This year, BFC and BFC EMS are asking for a total of $1,055,000. That’s a 53% increase overall. I just want us all to be on the same page. That’s hard to do in one fiscal year … that’s a hefty ask.”

BFC President David Fitzgerald urged the Berlin Mayor and Council to consider the request “ask versus ask.” He noted that EMS sought $611,000 last year compared to their request of $625,000 during this budget process and are thus “only asking for $14,000 more.” Fitzgerald said it’s important for town officials to understand the budgeted amount was far below the amount identified as necessary to fund operations.

“It sounds bad, but I think you should look at ask to ask too, because that sounds like we’ve asked for more but look at ask to ask so we don’t get people bent out of shape,” Fitzgerald said. “Last year, we asked for $611,000, and we are now asking $625,000, so we are only asking for $14,000 more … I think you all need to say ask to ask.”

The emergency officials said the increased request comes as the district continues to grow rapidly. There are more subdivisions and townhouses, and it is “only going to get worse,” according to Fitzgerald.

Town Administrator Mary Bohlen agreed town services feel the same pressures.

Still, Tyndall asked that BFC personnel maintain “realistic expectations.”

“We understand what the ask has been year over year…but we have to spread that amount of our revenue across many different pathways,” the mayor said. “I think we are very generous with what we are able to offer based on what we have available. This body will continue to do that; I just want to set realistic expectations so we are not misleading anybody.”