ST. CLOUD, Fla. — The city of St. Cloud has approved its $273 million 2024-2025 budget, which includes funds to address needs that come with being one of Central Florida’s fastest growing cities.

City officials say there are plans in place to build two new fire stations, rebuild an existing one, and build a public safety complex that will include a new communications center and an emergency operations center. 

Area first responders say they are working to keep up with the city's growth because they believe citizens deserve the best service possible. 

“As we add these stations, we’ll also see a reduction in response times to those areas for the residents who are already living there,” said St. Cloud Fire Rescue Department Chief Jason Miller.

Miller said one of the new fire stations will be off Neptune Road, while the location of the other is still to be determined.

“It’s over $80 million that our city leaders are investing in the city of St. Cloud for public safety, public welfare,” Miller said. 

In addition to those projects, city leaders say they want to build a public safety complex — a communications center for 911 operators, and an emergency operations center — off Canoe Creek Road.

“Our current building is very dated, it’s very small," Miller said. "As we grow and have more citizens and the city gets larger, we found the need to have more resources available to us to manage that."

Miller said he was happy to see the collaboration that made the plans possible.

“The next three years, rebuilding one station, and building two new stations, that is a huge lift," he said. "Not only for the city of St. Cloud, but for those of us who are managing the fire department. I just want the citizens to know we’re here for you and we’re trying to provide you the best service possible."