VANCOUVER - The president of the Vancouver Firefighters’ Union believes city firefighters may face a budget cut of up to $4 million next year, but the city manager said any cut will only be relative to the squad’s growing expenses. Union president Gord Ditchburn said sources within City Hall told him Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services faces a cut of up to $4 million for 2011. “We haven’t confirmed that yet, as [city manager Penny Ballem] is just starting to propose her budget for next year … but $4 million equates to a firehall,” Ditchburn said. “$4 million is 40 jobs.” Job cuts would in turn lead to decreased services and longer response times, he said. “The council, mayor and city manager will have to take that risk, if that’s where it ends up,” Ditchburn said. “They’re going to have to put the risk of the citizens on their shoulders.”
However, Ballem maintains Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services will be receiving more money than it did the previous year, and that any “cut” is only relative to expenses. “Their budget will be higher than it was last year, but their total is bigger than the total we have available,” Ballem said. She was unable to provide an exact number as to how much Vancouver Fire and Rescue will be receiving but said the difference between that figure and the firefighters’ expenses will likely be “a few million dollars.” Ballem said the service may have to consider structural and operational changes to make the most of its limited resources, citing the evolving role of a firefighter. “The majority of work they do now is emergency medical services,” Ballem said. “You see them using the big fire trucks to go and respond to a medical call. We have to rethink that.” Council is to approve the budget at the beginning of December.
1 comment:
So they have the millions of dollers to put in bikes lanes that are rarely used (Except for the Mayor) and hurt local businesses. Yet, then cut the fire dept budget by 4 million dollars, who are these idiots that make 6 figure salaries in city hall and dont have the brain power to light a bulb. Maybe the managers should take a cut and stop chowing down on the public service gravy train.
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