| The Feasibility Study recommending the mergers of Central Kitsap, South Kitsap and the Bremerton Fire Departments pose significant financial questions. Assuredly, our fire service heroes deserve the best pay possible for the life-saving work they do. However, financial efficiency and reduction in operating costs must be the priority.
The Study recommends $750,000 in across-the-board salary increases for the three organizations as soon as they merge. Additionally, new salary schedules will have to be negotiated when this new mega-organization is approved. Because fire departments base salaries on the number of employees, salaries will of necessity increase. Therefore any savings realized by cooperative purchasing or scales of economy will be negated by hugely increased salary and personnel costs. Where will new funding come from? Simply merging the tax revenues of the organizations will not magically increase the available dollars. The Study recommends 13 “executive positions” in the new organization. The average fire chief in Kitsap County makes approximately $130,000 per year. Why will we need 13 of these executives?
Last year I voted in favor of Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue’s levy lid-lift to repair leaking fire station roofs and replace aging fire trucks. Have these capital expenditures been completed? If they have not, why are elected officials squandering financial resources on feasibility studies? Bigger government has never resulted in cost savings. Smaller, more affordable, locally controlled fire departments make more sense and reduce costs.
Bill Minks
Seabeck |
