10/15 Budget Hearing: Fort Wayne Fire Department

Notes from the Fort Wayne City Council Budget Hearing on October 15, 2009.

This post covers notes from the Fort Wayne Fire Department budget discussion. The budget for the Fort Wayne Fire Department may be downloaded here.

Karen Goldner – 2008 may have been higher (in stats) because of ice storm.  About 4,000 runs during the ice storm.  Don’t have an academy for 2010.  They are waiting until they have enough to do a class – fiscally responsible thing to do.  Seems to be a young department because of annexations and such.  Majority have less than 10 years of service.

John Shoaff – Fire Rescue Runs includes everything but EMS.

Liz Brown – Fire Merit board has added about $20,000 to the budget.  Supplies are for testing.  Services – is part of the testing – assessment.  There is a new validation fee for testing which has now been separated.  Validation means bringing in a private company to assess the job positions for each rank.  Based on them, came up with recommendations and also evaluation of administration.  These expenses would only run about every two years.

Marty Bender – purchasing one Quint Apparatus instead of three.  They will evaluate it, then purchasing further.  Quint is aerial on top, ability to carry water, ladders, deliver water and to carry hose.  It combines five functions into one truck.  Will probably go to Station 14, Reed Road.

John Shoaff – significant drop in wages.  In 2009, budgeted for full headcount and used it to offset for over time.  There is a drop in overtime.  Do not anticipate filling some losses.  Difference in methods to evaluate wages.

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