Public Safety & First Responders

Aerial view of a city river with a bridge, parks, buildings, and green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

This portion of the Wichita Forward proposal invests in the facilities, equipment and infrastructure our Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services need to serve a growing city safely and effectively.

As Wichita expands, so do the demands placed on first responders. These investments are designed to help ensure timely response, modern working conditions, and reliable service for residents across the city.

Funding

Approximately one-third of the sales tax revenues (or $225M) are dedicated to public safety. This is one of the primary investment categories outlined in the ballot framework.

Why it matters

Wichita’s footprint has grown significantly over the past several decades, but public safety infrastructure has not always kept pace. Without proportional investment, our first responders face longer response times, inadequate and outdated equipment and aging facilities. Strengthening fire, police, and EMS capacity helps ensure that every neighborhood, long-established and newly developed, has access to reliable emergency services. These investments support safer communities and allow first responders to do their jobs more effectively.

Key Facts

Wichita’s geographic area has expanded by more than 50 miles since 2009, but safety infrastructure has lagged during that same time.
These investments align with the City of Wichita’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and help reduce reliance on long-term bonding and interest costs, saving money by avoiding additional interest fees.
Modernized stations, vehicles and equipment can improve response times and allow cross-trained teams to respond to medical and fire emergencies more efficiently.