Overview
- The FY2027 proposal from County Executive Kathy Klausmeier sets aside funding to hire 12 battalion chiefs for the Baltimore County Fire Department.
- Fire Chief Joseph Dixon says the hires target a heavy workload of about 150,000 calls a year and growing incident complexity.
- The added posts would double today’s command coverage, with only six command officers now responsible for long cross‑county drives.
- Officials describe the fire funding as millions of dollars within a $5 billion plan that also backs other public safety projects.
- The expansion would raise battalion chief staffing to its highest supported level since 2000, and it still needs County Council approval.