More pain in Baltimore: Chief Jim Clack says layoffs & closing more companies in 2011 budget "go too far". Read chief's letter to the department.
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Read Chief Jim Clack’s budget message to the department
In an effort to close a projected $121-million deficit in FY2011, Balitmore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has proposed some drastic cuts. These include slashing 900 positions, involving 600 layoffs. This is just an early round in the budget wars. The mayor says she is still looking for other revenue possibilities to offset the shortfall and avoid some of the cutting.
As for the fire department, Chief Jim Clack has sent a message to the department outlining the cuts and his views on the budget. Here are some excerpts:
We are projected to lose a total of 166 positions, with 154 of those positions coming directly from the closure of seven fire suppression companies. This cut represents almost 10% of our workforce and 13% of our fire companies. As of the end of February 2010, there would be 91 temporary layoffs of our newest members. This number of layoffs would be reduced by the beginning of the new fiscal year based on retirements and other personnel attrition, but there is no way for me to avoid some layoffs if the current proposed budget is adopted.
In addition, there could be eight Captains, 22 Lieutenants and several more PO and EVD jobs eliminated. This would require temporary demotions of the most recently promoted rated members and effectively “kill” the promotional lists for rated members.
These cuts simply go too far. We are past the point where efficiency measures and working harder will make up for the lack of money to run the fire department. I have expressed my sincere concerns to the Mayor regarding our budget cuts. I know she gets why this proposed budget is not acceptable and she has made it clear to me that public safety funding will be the first area of the budget to be restored if new revenue can be found.
