(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)

As of December, 2017, the Phoenix Fire Department had 1,635 filled positions.

If Phoenix wants its fire department to be staffed at a higher level it would likely mean higher taxes. That’s according to a city council report.

While there is no universally accepted standard to determine staffing levels, the fire industry often uses a ratio of one first responder per 1,000 residents. To get there, Phoenix would need to hire 138 firefighters.

To support them, the Budget Department said 28 civilians would need to be hired and new equipment purchased, including five new apparatus.

The total estimated cost would be $30 million, which includes $4 million in one-time expenses for the new apparatus and equipment and $26 million for ongoing expenses related to sworn and civilian positions.

Cutting other programs or services to cover the costs is not an option -  so Phoenix would need to find new money, likely through a higher sales tax or reinstating the food tax or a combination of the two.

The public safety subcommittee accepted the report without public discussion. The subcommittee requested the information after a discussion on police staffing levels and costs.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), which represents officers, has been pushing the city to increase its staffing levels to 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents.

By this summer, Phoenix expects to be around two officers per 1,000.

During a subcommittee meeting last October, members were told if Phoenix wanted to reach the 2.5 per 1,000 ratio, it would need to hire 837 officers along with support staff and equipment.

The total estimated cost was between $202 and $317 million.