How Buget Cuts Effect Fire Departments
Running head: Budgets and Fire Departments
How Budget Cuts Effect Fire Departments
Leann Rae
Edison State College How Budget Cuts Effect Fire Departments
Budgets have played a major role in fire departments all over the world. In the past couple of years, fire department budgets have been in the headlines quite frequently. This is especially true in Florida, where there has been much controversy in the proposal and passing of Amendment 1, in January 2008. The passing of this amendment has left many counties and cities in Florida having to cut budgets across the board, which includes the fire and EMS departments. Many departments are facing a substantial loss in their fiscal year budget which could translate into millions of dollars. With many fire departments providing fire suppression and emergency medical services, this monetary loss is going to greatly impact the communities they serve, despite what the law makers think. This loss is not only going to affect the communities and the departments as a whole, but everyone from the fire chief, the company officers all the way to the firefighters and fire inspectors.
These changes are going to cause personnel lay offs, less public education, less training and education for fire department employees, increases in response times, lack of resources, out dated equipment, and increase in unsafe buildings due to code violations. With each of the causes there is going to be an effect, safety is the theme, with personnel lay offs, the engines will be minimally staffed; if there is a fire and you have minimum personnel are these departments going to abide by the two-in-two out rule? Even worse there may not be a supervisor to be accountable for the firefighters, because the company officer is also fighting the fire. Without public education is there going to be an increase in fire deaths or carbon monoxide poisonings? With outdated equipment what is the chance that your firefighter could
How Budget Cuts Effect Fire Departments
Leann Rae
Edison State College How Budget Cuts Effect Fire Departments
Budgets have played a major role in fire departments all over the world. In the past couple of years, fire department budgets have been in the headlines quite frequently. This is especially true in Florida, where there has been much controversy in the proposal and passing of Amendment 1, in January 2008. The passing of this amendment has left many counties and cities in Florida having to cut budgets across the board, which includes the fire and EMS departments. Many departments are facing a substantial loss in their fiscal year budget which could translate into millions of dollars. With many fire departments providing fire suppression and emergency medical services, this monetary loss is going to greatly impact the communities they serve, despite what the law makers think. This loss is not only going to affect the communities and the departments as a whole, but everyone from the fire chief, the company officers all the way to the firefighters and fire inspectors.
These changes are going to cause personnel lay offs, less public education, less training and education for fire department employees, increases in response times, lack of resources, out dated equipment, and increase in unsafe buildings due to code violations. With each of the causes there is going to be an effect, safety is the theme, with personnel lay offs, the engines will be minimally staffed; if there is a fire and you have minimum personnel are these departments going to abide by the two-in-two out rule? Even worse there may not be a supervisor to be accountable for the firefighters, because the company officer is also fighting the fire. Without public education is there going to be an increase in fire deaths or carbon monoxide poisonings? With outdated equipment what is the chance that your firefighter could
References: Bruno, Hal (2008, April). "Recession" Signs Mean Trouble 's Ahead For Fire Departments Nationwide. Firehouse, 33(4), 26. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Trade & Industry database. (Document ID: 1480882521). Damron, David (28 October). Tax-cut plan threatens to scorch fire-rescue budget: State lawmakers may strip millions from Orange County 's already-strapped fire department. McClatchy - Tribune Business News,(26). Retrieved September 26, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Dateline database. (Document ID: 1373526591 IAFF: Budget Cuts Threaten Safety. (5 February). PR Newswire, (5) Retrieved September 25, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Dateline database. (Document ID: 1210937181). IAFF, (2008). House Committee Restores First Responder Funds. Retrieved September 26, 2008, from http://www.iaff.org/08News/061108House.htm Kleindienst, Linda and Hafenbrack, J. (22 June). Gov. Crist signs historic bill calling for $15.6 billion in tax cuts. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, 1. Retrieved September 26, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Dateline database. (Document ID: 12932928 Rabin, Charles (12 June). Fire chiefs fear critical cuts: Five of Miami-Dade 's six fire department chiefs warned about the public safety problems they fear tax-cut proposals could bring. McClatchy - Tribune Business News, 1. Retrieved September 26, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Dateline database. (Document ID: 1286482791). Smoke, Clinton, Company Officer, Second Edition, 2005 Appendix