One of Lancaster's three city firehouses bears a large "closed" sign after the mayor laid off 13 firefighters to help balance the budget.
A lack of manpower forced the indefinite closure on Monday of Engine House 3 at 1596 E. Main St., Assistant Chief Dave Ward said yesterday. Ward predicted that response times would increase in the city of about 37,000 people, but he could not say by how much.
Engine House 1 at 254 E. Chestnut St. and Engine House 2 at 601 Harrison Ave. remain open.
Mayor David S. Smith laid off the firefighters to help balance the city's general-fund budget as required by state law. Lower-than-expected income-tax collection and reduced local-government funding from the state blew a hole in this year's $23.6 million budget, Smith said.
City officials are asking voters on Nov. 8 to approve a 0.25-percentage-point increase in the city income tax for five years, raising it to 2 percent. The increase would generate $2.5 million annually to help balance next year's budget, Smith has said.
"It's critical," Ward said. "If this doesn't pass, I anticipate city hall having to lay off more firefighters."
The layoffs and jobs left vacant through attrition leave the department at 68 firefighters, including the chief and assistant chief, down from 92, Ward said.
"I'm concerned for the safety of the firefighters and the citizens at this point," he said. "This isn't a scare tactic. We're down to bare bones."
Some residents have said they don't like laying off firefighters, but don't know what else the city can do to balance the budget.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
