Sure! Here’s a sample news article in the style of ESPN News, tailored to focus on the civic and public safety angle rather than sports (since ESPN typically doesn’t cover municipal budget issues unless there’s a relevant sports angle):
Baltimore Fire Chief Asks for 10.7% Budget Increase to Handle Staffing, Technology Issues
By ESPN News Staff | June 1, 2025
Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace is requesting a 10.7% budget increase for the city’s fire department in the upcoming fiscal year, citing critical staffing shortages and outdated technology that hamper emergency response efforts across the city.
In a recent City Council budget hearing, Wallace outlined the urgent need for increased funding to address persistent overtime costs, recruitment struggles, and aging communications systems that have strained the department’s operations.
“This is about making sure we can keep people safe,” Chief Wallace said. “We’re seeing increased call volumes, longer response times in some neighborhoods, and difficulty attracting and retaining qualified personnel. If we don’t act now, the consequences could be devastating.”
The proposed increase would raise the department’s budget from $343 million to roughly $380 million. Much of the funding would be directed toward hiring new firefighters, upgrading dispatch technology, and modernizing fleet equipment—many of which, officials say, are past their intended service life.
Wallace emphasized the department’s growing reliance on mandatory overtime due to a lack of available staff, which he noted has led to burnout and higher attrition rates. “It’s not sustainable,” he warned.
Baltimore’s fire and EMS services responded to more than 240,000 calls last year, a number that continues to rise amid ongoing public health challenges, opioid-related emergencies, and infrastructure demands.
City Council members responded with mixed views, balancing concerns over rising public safety costs with ongoing budget constraints in other sectors. However, Council President Nick Mosby signaled cautious support for the increase, stating, “Public safety has to be a top priority. We need to ensure our fire department has the tools and staffing it needs to meet the city’s needs.”
The budget proposal will undergo several rounds of debate before being finalized later this summer. If approved, the new funding would go into effect at the start of the fiscal year on July 1.
