City to rehire eight laid-off firefighters
The Spokane City Council has approved hiring back eight laid-off firefighters because a series of illnesses and injuries has depleted the city’s fire force and boosted overtime costs.
A higher number of emergency fire calls, including house fires, has added to the strain on the existing force, Chief Bobby Williams said. Some firefighters were off duty because of injuries sustained on the job.
City officials said it would be less expensive to reinstate eight firefighters than to continue paying overtime salaries for the remainder of 2005.
The council Monday approved an emergency budget ordinance shifting $369,000 from two reserve accounts and an equipment account to pay for the reinstated firefighters’ salaries and benefits.
The city cut 52 jobs in the Fire Department for 2005. The department ended up laying off 28 firefighters after retirements and other personnel changes. Part of the 2005 budget included less money for the department’s relief firefighter staff, which has left fewer personnel to replace sick or injured firefighters assigned to stations.
Citywide, the 2005 budget cut 154 jobs from general fund services, including 20 police officer positions.
So far this year, the number of calls has increased by 3 percent, but that is only part of the increased work load, Williams said. The number of fires where crews hook up to hydrants and battle flames – so-called working fires – is up 64 percent this year, Williams said.
To save money, the city cut flu shots this year, and a wave of flu-like illness swept through some of the stations, which are communal living environments where seasonal viruses can spread, Williams said.
The budget transfer approved Monday further reduces any extra cash the city was hoping to roll into its 2006 budget. Officials have said next year’s budget could see additional budget cuts of $1.5 million.
Williams said staff reductions have reached a point where any additional cuts could result in taking an engine out of service or closing a station.