HARTride 2012
July 25th, 2007, 10:32 PM
Proposed budget cuts creating more concerns
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Bay News 9
TAMPA (Bay News 9) --The pending budget cuts could have a huge impact on public safety in Hillsborough County.
A budget workshop will take place tonight in downtown Tampa to discuss just how much proposed budget cuts would affect the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Department.
Right now, there are 11 proposed fire stations under the new budget plan that would be cut.
Hillsborough Fire Rescue has been trying to keep up with the growth boom during the past few years in the eastern part of the county. That meant building new fire stations and hiring additional firefighters.
But plans for a new station set for construction at Oakfield Drive and Pauls Avenue in Brandon and the 21 firefighters slated to staff it have been put on hold.
And the entire project could be scrapped.
"To me, a fire station can never be too close," said Charles Jones, who lives near where the station would be built and is questioning why a station already approved would not be built. "Why stop now? I mean if it was already integrated, and they were starting to build the station, then why put it on hold? That's like putting people's lives on hold."
hcfr
Ray Yeakley with Hillsborough Fire Rescue couldn't comment on the budget, but did talk about response times and keeping citizens safe.
"If we are on one call, we get another call in the same area, a unit from outside that area has to respond,'' he said. "That equates to the chances of surviving a heart attack. It's going to be dramatically impacted, as well as a fire."
That's exactly why residents in the community are concerned.
The county has 30 days to review administrators' proposed budget cuts. That time frame was set up so commissioners could examine specific budget items before any cuts are made.
Cities and counties aren't alone in the budget crunch.
Lawmakers will return to Tallahassee for another special session beginning September 18. They will try to cut the budget by at least 10 percent because of the changes created for property tax relief.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/7/25/274413.html?title=Proposed+budget+cuts+creating+more+concerns
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Bay News 9
TAMPA (Bay News 9) --The pending budget cuts could have a huge impact on public safety in Hillsborough County.
A budget workshop will take place tonight in downtown Tampa to discuss just how much proposed budget cuts would affect the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Department.
Right now, there are 11 proposed fire stations under the new budget plan that would be cut.
Hillsborough Fire Rescue has been trying to keep up with the growth boom during the past few years in the eastern part of the county. That meant building new fire stations and hiring additional firefighters.
But plans for a new station set for construction at Oakfield Drive and Pauls Avenue in Brandon and the 21 firefighters slated to staff it have been put on hold.
And the entire project could be scrapped.
"To me, a fire station can never be too close," said Charles Jones, who lives near where the station would be built and is questioning why a station already approved would not be built. "Why stop now? I mean if it was already integrated, and they were starting to build the station, then why put it on hold? That's like putting people's lives on hold."
hcfr
Ray Yeakley with Hillsborough Fire Rescue couldn't comment on the budget, but did talk about response times and keeping citizens safe.
"If we are on one call, we get another call in the same area, a unit from outside that area has to respond,'' he said. "That equates to the chances of surviving a heart attack. It's going to be dramatically impacted, as well as a fire."
That's exactly why residents in the community are concerned.
The county has 30 days to review administrators' proposed budget cuts. That time frame was set up so commissioners could examine specific budget items before any cuts are made.
Cities and counties aren't alone in the budget crunch.
Lawmakers will return to Tallahassee for another special session beginning September 18. They will try to cut the budget by at least 10 percent because of the changes created for property tax relief.
http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/7/25/274413.html?title=Proposed+budget+cuts+creating+more+concerns