Editor's note: All
letters to the Insider are printed as a courtesy to readers, and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of the Insider. We want to hear from
you! Please submit thank you!
A letter by resident Dan Penney in opposition to the proposed budget was published previously and can be read here:
http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/04/letter-to-editor-upcoming-south-fire.html
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This week you ran a
negative letter from Dan Penney regarding next
Tuesday's South District Budget Vote. Myself and the other four Fire
Commissioners would hope that our position on the budget can be
published before Tuesday. Our statement is attached. Thank you in
advance for your consideration.
Any Questions, contact Commission Chairman David P.Gallitto or myself.
Statement by Members of the Board of Fire Commissioners – South Fire District
On
Tuesday, April 30th, Voters in the South Fire District will be asked to
approve the proposed $4,605,680 budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year. As
the duly elected stewards of Middletown’s largest Fire District, we the
members of the Board of Fire Commissioners would like to offer some
facts before you vote.
The proposed budget carries no increase in taxes.
The Tax Rate will remain at 3.648 mils. Compared with other Fire
Districts in the State that are staffed by career firefighters, that
rate is low, very low. In fact, the mil rate for South District is more
in line with the tax rates for districts that are all volunteer or a
combination of volunteer and paid.
Within our own City of Middletown, the Middletown Fire District has a
tax rate of 5.8 mils. West Haven, is another City with three Fire
Districts. All are staffed by paid firefighters with a handful of
volunteers. There the tax rates range from 7.55 to 8.63 mils. The
Thompsonville Fire District, a career department in the Town of Enfield
has a mil rate of 6.6. We believe our mil rate is a bargain in
comparison.
We
have heard criticism recently regarding the overtime portion of the
current district budget being substantially over spent. While that is
true, the salary portion of the budget is being under spent. This is
due to several vacancies. It takes time to seek and test applicants to
fill those vacancies. In the interim, shifts must be filled, yet we
persevere in addressing this problem.
Public
Safety organizations are unique in that shifts MUST be filled 24/7
regardless of the number of available employees. South Fire District
is staffed with a minimum of 1 Lieutenant and 5 firefighters, 24/7. It
takes four platoons, each working 42 hours per week, to provide around
the clock coverage. While this is substantially less than what would be
considered adequate staffing for a district with the commercial,
industrial and residential fire potential and the physical size of South
District, we believe it is the best we can afford in this economy.
As
a public safety agency, we cannot leave the department unstaffed. The
shifts must be covered, regardless of the amount of overtime that is
required. Fires or medical emergencies won’t wait for the next platoon
to show up in 10 or 14 hours. Also, we cannot predict with any
certainty, the number and severity of fires or serious emergencies that
will be encountered in a given year. This also generates overtime over
which we have no control.
As
the Board of Fire Commissioners, we believe we have presented a very
tight and fiscally sound budget. Please know we encourage any resident
of the District to ask questions of your commission and to participate
to ensure a healthy, sound South Fire District. We urge a YES vote on
April 30th and thank you for your continued support of our District. Voting is from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at the firehouse on Randolph Rd.
David P. Gallitto, David F. Darling Edward J. Creem Jr.
William F. Gregorio Sr. Mary A. Bartolotta
50% raises for the commissioners taking from the CNR doesn't seem like a smart budget. My response is do another budget without robbing the CNR and no raises for the commissioners.
ReplyDeleteI am all for the Firefighters just not the excess that is in this budget.
why the hell would anyone vote yes to give commissioners raises???
ReplyDelete