ATTENDANCE SPARSE AS SAN MIGUEL FIRE WEIGHS BUDGET CRISIS OPTIONS
By Miriam Raftery
June 10, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Only ten area residents showed up at a June 3rd meeting convened by San Miguel Fire to discuss a budget crisis facing the District. Chief August Ghio presented a Power Point presentation. Several residents offered suggestions for the District to pare back expenses, said public information officer Leonard Villareal.
Those suggestions included:
• Identify budget target balance line (what does it take to run the District?)
• Formation of Community Oversight Committee
• Eliminate PIO position
• Reduce Fire Chief salary
• Eliminate the Wellness Program
• Eliminate Director benefits
• Eliminate Director pay for meetings
• Cap leave amounts and limit ability to take time off
• Focus on protection from firefighters (ability to respond is priority)
• Rebid employee medical benefits
• Eliminate employee dental insurance
• Reduce employee benefits and salaries
• Priority is to have first line employees
• Use of Reserve Firefighter Program to augment staffing on engines (use non-paid reserves to fill open positions vs. OT)
• Work toward 4 person staffing
• Run district with 1st line responders vs. volunteers
• Every dollar saved counts, no reduction is too small
• Firefighters well paid – if firefighter leaves for better paying district, establish agreements where receiving district to pay losing district for skill set acquired
• Post budget FY 2009/2010 and preliminary budget on District website to include salary schedules. Update as budget is modified
• 30 minute Public Information Opportunity Q&A forum prior to Board meeting; not be part of actual Board meeting. Fire Chief could facilitate with available board members up to 3
• Keep up focus on week/brush abatement in Crest, need prepared community
• Eliminate Director medical and dental benefits which could be used to pay for the PIO position
• Impose contract on employees (wage and benefit decreases)
• More community outreach by Directors and Fire Chief by attending community group meetings