Allentown police, fire and EMS budget hearings on tap at tonight's city council meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. Council members have submitted nearly two pages of initial line-item questions for police leadership.
https://allentownpa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=809616&GUID=25CFDEC1-20B9-49B9-BD1A-8D4EACBFB74D

Most questions reference line items in the police budget detail, which you can review here: https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Finance/budget/2021Proposed/Detail/04%20-%20Police.pdf
You can review the entire proposed 2021 budget and budget detail book here: https://www.allentownpa.gov/Government/City-Budget

The budget detail is made up of proposed line items that have changed since last year or are new. It also includes summaries of each department program, goals and "measurable budget year objectives and long-range targets."

For an example, see the police operations program detail (pgs 12-13): https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Finance/budget/2021Proposed/Detail/04%20-%20Police.pdf

Council's budget meeting is underway. You can watch it here: http://allentownpa.granicus.com/player/event/5fd2941a-c618-4ba9-957a-c7304c4a71bd?&redirect=true

Fire Chief Jim Wehr keeps his introductory remarks short. No presentation this year. We head straight to questions.
Fire budget: https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Finance/budget/2021Proposed/05%20-%20Fire.pdf
Fire budget detail: https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Finance/budget/2021Proposed/Detail/05%20-%20Fire.pdf

EMS Operations Chief Eric Gratz up next. Emphasizes that proposed non-personnel budget of $239,000 is down from $291,000, and that they are definitely "pinching pennies."

Gratz says most EMS statewide are seeing call volume down 20-30%, with corresponding drop in revenue. Allentown call volume is actually up slightly, with revenue down roughly 7% because the lack of car crashes in the spring. Car insurers are the biggest reimbursers.

I believe Gratz said only two paramedics have contracted COVID-19, including one just recently. But he acknowledged that the bureau dealt with considerable anxiety during the early days of the pandemic.

EMS proposed budget includes new billing software that Gratz says allows billing staff to work from home, save money on forms and stamps, and helps it better identify patients' insurers. He estimates an annual net ROI of roughly $20,000.

Some EMS stats:

EMS has dedicated 140 hours so far to helping the city Health Bureau with flu shots this year.

Gratz says he expects growing pains of consolidating city 911 dispatch center with county center will continue, but that communication gaps are improving.

Lots of discussion on overdose calls and addiction more generally, will have to return to more details later. One interesting thread: Opiate overdose calls centralized along Seventh Street corridor. K2 overdose calls centralized specifically around Seventh and Linden.