The Providence Journal
COVENTRY, R.I. — Firefighters have made their bid to save the financially troubled Coventry Fire District and will now turn their eyes to taxpayers.
Facing the dissolution of the district and the loss of their jobs, firefighters Friday agreed to concessions in their contract estimated to save the district $350,000 over the next six months, according to Frank Palin, chairman of the fire district’s volunteer board of directors. The concessions include reducing — from four to three — the number of firefighters required to be on duty each shift, eliminating their clothing allowance and increasing their health-insurance contribution.
Those firefighter givebacks would go into effect if residents of the district, also known as the Anthony Fire District, approve a $600,000 supplemental tax increase at an all-day referendum Wednesday. For the owner of an average home, the supplemental tax hike would result in a $155 increase.
Full story: Coventry firefighters make concessions in bid to save jobs