HOW MUCH WOULD 10% BE?
The Mayor has asked every department in Metro to submit a budget that would reflect a 10% reduction. We felt it prudent to explain the process and possible impact on the Fire Department if a budget with such a reduction was passed.
First, the process begins with the Director Chief (DC) sending a proposed budget as requested to the Mayor. The DC’s budget would include a 10% reduction. In April, the Mayor will be holding budget hearings. The hearings will be held at the Metro Courthouse and are open to the public. Fire/OEM is scheduled for April 2, 2009 at 3:30. The proposed budget will be discussed and debated during these hearings. The Mayor would then submit a final budget to the City Council for approval. The council will have three readings of the budget for passage. The council may make their recommendations for each department’s budget and the final approval will be at the council’s discretion. If the council is unable to agree on the budget prior to July 1, 2009, the Mayor’s budget will become instated.
Second, the Fire Department would lose 127 positions given a 10% reduction. The loss of these positions would affect front line personnel, members of prevention, maintenance, training, supply, and administration. In detail, front line losses would include 88 firefighters, 24 captains, and 6 district chiefs. The balance of the losses would include prevention, training, maintenance, supply, and administration. These cuts would be implemented based on seniority. The district chiefs and captains would role back to their previous positions. The servants with the lowest amount of seniority would be laid off. This translates to approximately 120 front line firefighters. At present, Nashville’s minimum staffing on duty for a shift is 187 personnel covering 533 square miles and over 600,000 residents. The reduction would amount to about 60% of one entire shift. This reduction would without doubt cause the closure of several fire companies. These closures would increase the time needed for sufficient manpower to arrive at your emergency. According to the national minimum standard, the Fire Department is already below the recommended staffing levels. Losing an additional 10% would drive the department further away from this standard and would undoubtedly compromise the safety of the citizens of Nashville and those who serve to protect it.
The Mayor has asked every department in Metro to submit a budget that would reflect a 10% reduction. We felt it prudent to explain the process and possible impact on the Fire Department if a budget with such a reduction was passed.
First, the process begins with the Director Chief (DC) sending a proposed budget as requested to the Mayor. The DC’s budget would include a 10% reduction. In April, the Mayor will be holding budget hearings. The hearings will be held at the Metro Courthouse and are open to the public. Fire/OEM is scheduled for April 2, 2009 at 3:30. The proposed budget will be discussed and debated during these hearings. The Mayor would then submit a final budget to the City Council for approval. The council will have three readings of the budget for passage. The council may make their recommendations for each department’s budget and the final approval will be at the council’s discretion. If the council is unable to agree on the budget prior to July 1, 2009, the Mayor’s budget will become instated.
Second, the Fire Department would lose 127 positions given a 10% reduction. The loss of these positions would affect front line personnel, members of prevention, maintenance, training, supply, and administration. In detail, front line losses would include 88 firefighters, 24 captains, and 6 district chiefs. The balance of the losses would include prevention, training, maintenance, supply, and administration. These cuts would be implemented based on seniority. The district chiefs and captains would role back to their previous positions. The servants with the lowest amount of seniority would be laid off. This translates to approximately 120 front line firefighters. At present, Nashville’s minimum staffing on duty for a shift is 187 personnel covering 533 square miles and over 600,000 residents. The reduction would amount to about 60% of one entire shift. This reduction would without doubt cause the closure of several fire companies. These closures would increase the time needed for sufficient manpower to arrive at your emergency. According to the national minimum standard, the Fire Department is already below the recommended staffing levels. Losing an additional 10% would drive the department further away from this standard and would undoubtedly compromise the safety of the citizens of Nashville and those who serve to protect it.