By Dean Bohn
The Swartz Creek News (Michigan)
SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. — Swartz Creek Area Fire Department Chief Brent Cole thought he was being frugal when he reduced his budget 3 percent.
Swartz Creek city leaders gave it back, telling him to cut it to 10 percent.
“I understand we’re in hard economic times, but it’s getting to the point of choosing between money and readiness,” Cole said.
“I hope it doesn’t come to the point where budget cuts will put us in a state of non-preparedness. I don’t think we’re there yet, but we’re at the bare bones.”
Cole said he is trimming gear and training but fears the consequences.
“I feel fortunate it’s only 10 percent and not 15,” he said.
He may not feel so fortunate next year.
City Manager Paul Bueche said when spring comes around, and if funding sources don’t change, more - and deeper - cuts are on the way.
“All the departments fully understand that times are hard, and we need to make cuts,” Bueche said.
“As far as funding sources, with housing values going down I don’t see anything coming except significant drops.”
The 2009 fire department budget originally was $298,000. Cole trimmed it to $288,990 before presenting it to the council.
City leaders want it down to $268,200 - which Cole did.
City resident Ken Berton, who credits the fire department for saving his house at 4045 S. Elms on July 23, said public safety should never be cut.
“Fire, police and rescue, you can’t make cuts,” he said. “You can’t compromise public safety.”
Berton, 43, saw the fire department respond to his home when the electrical panel caught fire.
“It was an older electrical box. With the age of it, the tie-down clamps may have come loose and wires bumped, causing it to arc and catch fire,” he said.
“I was very pleased with the fire department. I can’t imagine living in an area without one. The quick response and professionalism saved my home. When they tore off some siding to get to the fire they did only what they had to. It could have been a lot worse.”
Cole said wages comprise the majority of the spending for most departments within municipal budgets.
“But a fire department budget is mostly equipment,” said Cole, who has been on the fire department for 27 years and has been chief for almost 14 years.
One of the cuts is the purchase of coats and pants, which firefighters refer to as “turn-out gear.”
“We were planning on ordering 10 sets of turn-out gear, but we’re cutting back to five,” the chief said.
Each set costs $1,500. The National Fire Protection Association sets the standard for the gear - once it becomes 10 years old, it’s deemed too old to use.
However, general usage could cause the gear to become damaged through rips, heat exposure, burns and general fatigue - which compromises it’s usefulness and life expectancy.
“If someone has gear that is no longer safe, they can’t respond to alarms,” Cole said.
Although the department spent $80,000 on wages last year, Cole said that wouldn’t pay for one full-time firefighter if insurance, retirement and other benefits were factored in.
The on-call department has 38 on its roster.
“We’re already asking if (firefighters) will volunteer their time for hose testing and fire-prevention presentations at the schools,” he said. “That will save $4,100.”
Other cuts included supplemental fire insurance for volunteers, which was costing about $3,900 each year.
“We found we weren’t using it, and something had to go,” he said.
Cutting back on training - arson prevention and advanced firefighting classes - saves another $2,000.
Cutting back on dress uniforms and other turn-out gear saved $9,700.
Switching to a different communications system saved $1,000.
Miscellaneous fire equipment maintenance cuts saved $3,400.
The $1,700 normally put aside for equipment upgrades got the ax.
“There were many other items that were $500 or less, but those are the biggest items,” the chief said.
The department had 213 fire calls in 2006. In 2007 it increased to 228. It fell to 191 in 2008. This year so far, the department has made 128 runs.
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