RFD Budget Cuts

The Mayor has proposed cutting 16 line FF and closing two fire companies (Midi 2 and 8)

Full Budget Report. Go to page 279 or 12-1

Fire Change

Full Story on Newsday.com

For the first time, a state commission has recommended taking a hard look at New York's volunteer-led system of fire protection and requiring counties to at least consider assuming more control of their local fire services.

It's such a touchy subject that five of the 15 members of the Commission on Local Government Efficiency -- including Long Island's two members -- voted against even studying the idea.
But commissioners said they'd heard too many "horror stories" on Long Island and statewide about multiplying Taj Mahal fire stations stuffed with brand new equipment, at a time when volunteer numbers are rapidly dropping.

"Our taxes are far too high, and we can't continue to embrace the status quo and expect things to get any better," said Assemb. Sam Hoyt (D-Buffalo), chairman of the local governments committee and a member of the commission, which presented its recommendations to Gov. David A. Paterson on Wednesday. "I guess they [volunteers] are a powerful constituency, but at some point we have got to learn to say no."

The commission, which drew in part on findings from Newsday's 2005 Fire Alarm series, emphasized that voters would have to approve, through referendum, any move to give their county broader power to coordinate fire services and review equipment and coverage decisions.

Triage Times again...

This is from the Messenger Post. Full Story
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Emergency departments in Monroe County hospitals are struggling to care for the increasing numbers of patients flooding in. Hospital administrators and those on the front lines say the triage system is buckling as patient volume climbs and state and federal aid to hospitals falls.

Since Genesee Hospital closed in 2001, hospitals such as Strong Memorial Hospital say the number of patients they see has steadily gone up each year.

Firefighter Training

Consolidation?

ALBANY — Administration officials are hoping that pressure from local-government officials and taxpayers will help to push through a list of recommendations to cut property taxes ranging from merging local governments to making workers pay more of their health care.

The report from the State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness is expected to recommend next week that local governments and school districts be given incentives to merge. Such incentives could be the power to renegotiate contracts with public workers to reduce benefits.

Full Story on the D&C.
Full Story on the Buffalo News.
And the Full Report.