Chief Williams Announces Budget Numbers

I said yesterday I was going to give you the notes on Chief Williams' budget talk. Been in meetings most of the day.

I'm pretty sure, by now, everyone has heard what has been said. The video will be playing on your shift. It's very much worth watching, Also, Mayor West's budget talk was today and has received a lot of media coverage. So read the paper tomorrow. I will summarize quickly (accurately?) what I heard Chief Williams say. Again, call the station and talk to one of your buckos for more information, or wait til you work and watch the video the chief has put together. I'm not a very fast typist (or very good for that matter), so when you read the info that follows, keep that in mind.



Summary of Chief Williams’ speech on 10-25-04 regarding the budget:

Administration has talked to other departments that are hiring.
HR, admin and Local 29 working together on this.
Talk of extending the laid-off list to indefinite - Civil Service will look at it.
4.3 million SFD deficit , but there will be a $500 k reduction upon slightly increasing property taxes.

reduction around 20% of staff.

Talked about the mid year reductions which you probably already know about.

The 4 alternatives

1. close 3 fire stations
2. reduce company staffing 4-3
3. 3 man engine co to 2 man
4. close 1 station

More to each of these, but details are intricate. Chief Williams will brief at a later date.

Mayor decided to not close any fire stations - picked the 4 person companies to 3 person option.

Rigs closing:

M-1
R-1
E-2

Reductions in training and prevention staff.

55 positions to be laid off. This is before any retirements.
Dec 30th is the last day of work for people being laid off. City HR will answer any questions. It is their field of expertise.

Will give advance letters of layoff to people who want to laterally transfer before Dec 30th.
Local 29 contract settlements will be retro-active with those who retire before contract is settled.


The process

Mayor submits a budget by the end of this week.
Nov through December city council will debate
13th of December budget will be finalized.