The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Arizona Firefighters, Police Facing Layoffs in 2010
TUCSON (AP) - More than 140 firefighters and police officers in Tucson could be laid off next month as part of $32 million in cuts proposed to close the city's budget deficit this year.
Deputy City Manager Richard Miranda said his office is recommending that about 40 active police officers be laid off and another 60 open positions be cut out of the budget permanently. More than 100 firefighters could be laid off. The recommendations will go to the City Council on Tuesday. City Manager Mike Letcher told every Tucson department head this week to cut 15 percent of their budgets to help fill a $32 million budget deficit for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The city also faces a more than $45 million budget deficit next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Miranda said that means the police department will have to cut $20 million from its budget, while the fire department needs to cut $11 million. It would mean more than $6 million cut from the parks department, as well.
"It's parks, fire and police," Miranda said. "They're the big ones."
Miranda said the only way for the fire department to meet the $11 million goal is for Fire Chief Patrick Kelly to cut stations, fire engines and paramedic teams.
In a memo to the department, Kelly said the department could shut down three fire stations, eliminate three fire engines or truck companies, plus lay off numerous firefighters and other staff, including public education officers, inspectors, captains, hazardous-materials, and other special-operations personnel.
Miranda said the only options for the parks department is to shut down programs and cut people. He said the closure of several recreation centers and the end of many programs would save an estimated $6 million.
Information from: the Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com/
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Deputy City Manager Richard Miranda said his office is recommending that about 40 active police officers be laid off and another 60 open positions be cut out of the budget permanently. More than 100 firefighters could be laid off. The recommendations will go to the City Council on Tuesday. City Manager Mike Letcher told every Tucson department head this week to cut 15 percent of their budgets to help fill a $32 million budget deficit for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The city also faces a more than $45 million budget deficit next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Miranda said that means the police department will have to cut $20 million from its budget, while the fire department needs to cut $11 million. It would mean more than $6 million cut from the parks department, as well.
"It's parks, fire and police," Miranda said. "They're the big ones."
Miranda said the only way for the fire department to meet the $11 million goal is for Fire Chief Patrick Kelly to cut stations, fire engines and paramedic teams.
In a memo to the department, Kelly said the department could shut down three fire stations, eliminate three fire engines or truck companies, plus lay off numerous firefighters and other staff, including public education officers, inspectors, captains, hazardous-materials, and other special-operations personnel.
Miranda said the only options for the parks department is to shut down programs and cut people. He said the closure of several recreation centers and the end of many programs would save an estimated $6 million.
Information from: the Arizona Daily Star, http://www.azstarnet.com/
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
-
** speechless**
Better start teaching homeowners and business owners to put out their own fires and rescue themselves.
Is there really a surplus of stations and personel down there that can be easily cut? Why don't they get rid of half the useless gov't bodies that don't have any purpose? There's your deficit eliminator.
-
Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
-
Some people just will never learn, what a shame that the very people out there making the community safer are looked upon as a number. I'm sure there is just absolutely no where else that can be cut, nor non-essential "feel good" programs or new buildings/ construction which can't be looked at. This is the problem when idiot politicians too damn scared or too damn chicken to do their job (because of re-elections) that they take the cheapskate easy out and say "everyone needs to cut 15%" vs viewing NEEDS vs WANTS.
-
Permalink Reply by steven on
-
thats bad and they were going to open up for testing next month too. i know my department had to go to half payed vol and the other half not payed just to save the town money
-
Permalink Reply by Jeff on
-
thats bullshit no fire or police or medics should ever have to be laidoff
-
-
thats bullshit no fire or police or medics should ever have to be laidoff
Problem is while there probably isn't a FF, cop, emergency responded out there who would disagree, the difference is that many in the general public don't have a clue, until it affects them in the wallet. For years, that was the sentiment....emergency services were untouchable and it was unthinkable to make cuts, but then you seen more and more of the "I have to sacrifice, so should they" mentality. We have seen a change in societial thought from best for all, to best for ME. Thing is most people don't typically need fire or police services until they are really in need, it is easy to think it "won't happen to me" and with such cuts, this may actually make people wake up and take stock, that gee...."it really does affect me". It shouldn't have to be that way, but I personally think that people are sick of hearing "threats" and they won't actually wake up until it does directly affect them.
-
Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
-
It has gotten to the point that we,the willing, facing the unknown are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much for so long with so little we are expected to do everything with nothing.
-
Permalink Reply by Doug on
-
How about cutting or laying off other non essential city employees? You have a City Manager, and his myriad of assistants, lay off the Deputy City Manager and his myriad of assistants.
Please, you can't tell me it's only three departments eating up the entire city budget. Everyone, everyone, can and needs to make hard and drastic decisions.
The City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County just went through this process over the last couple of years. Yes, the FD and PD took a hit, but so did many other jobs and services, city and county wide, consolidations were made, duplicates were cut out. And today, the region runs more efficiently and is better off for it. It's one of the few areas in this country minimally effected by these hard times.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
