Ballinger city officials moved Monday night to publicly explain the growing divide between the City of Ballinger, the Ballinger Fire Department, and the Ballinger Volunteer Fire Department.

Mayor Darlene Kelly read a prepared letter during the city council meeting at City Hall, outlining why the city chose to separate fire operations after years of mounting costs. According to the letter, the city historically paid most volunteer fire expenses — including equipment, trucks, insurance, fuel, and repairs — placing what officials called an unsustainable financial burden on city taxpayers.

Concerns over those costs were first raised during a town hall meeting in April of 2025, where residents questioned why city resources were routinely used for county fire calls without county funding support.

City leaders say months of negotiations followed, resulting in a plan allowing volunteers to operate independently outside city limits using transferred vehicles, while city equipment remains dedicated to Ballinger. Officials emphasized the move is meant to protect taxpayers, ensure accountability, and prevent the city from being left without fire protection