SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Scottsdale will have its first municipal fire department.

The City Council voted Tuesday night to grant Fire Chief William McDonald a force of 256 employees and $2.4 million to improve the city's dispatch and radio system.

For the remainder of fiscal 2004-05, the fire department will have $560,000 to spend on salaries and $1.2 million to update its deficient radio system.

Another $1.2 million will go toward joining Phoenix's automatic aid consortium.

The funds will come from Scottsdale's public safety tax revenue.

Rural/Metro Corp. has provided fire protection in Scottsdale for more than 50 years but announced last November that it would sever ties with the city on June 30.