Budget Cuts

[NJFFSA16]

ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) - The city's Fire Department is being asked
to cut $800,000 from its $10 million budget, the fire chief said.
Members of the firefighters union met with the Board of Public
Safety, the city controller, and Fire Department officials
Wednesday and were informed the agency had to cut 8 percent of its
annual budget.
"It's going to take creative financing to come up with
solutions to the problems," Fire Chief J. R. Rosencrans said. "If
everyone pulls together we can get through this tough time."
The city's biggest concern is with the payment of overtime for
Fire Department employees, firefighters union President David
Halsell said.
Halsell met with union members Wednesday evening to discuss
solutions and suggestions they can make to the city.
Union members suggested closing down a station temporarily when
employees are on vacation or sick, rather than pay firefighters and
medics overtime to fill those empty spots.
Rosencrans said if layoffs were necessary, he would volunteer to
retire, rather than allow the Fire Department to lose one of its
paramedics or firefighters.
"I told the union guys and the youngest firefighters that I'll
be the first one out, if we need to lose some personnel," he said.
"Hopefully that will help them sleep at night."

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[shznyt]

"I told the union guys and the youngest firefighters that I'll
be the first one out, if we need to lose some personnel,"

Wow, not too often you hear something like that from a chief.