With high murder and arson rates, Bing's push to cut fire and police departments shocks workers
Dec. 26,2011
Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin says five to 10 more fire companies could be closed.
By Steve Neavling and Gina Damron
Detroit Free Press Staff Writers
Detroit's police and fire departments -- already beset by staff and equipment shortages -- may lose a combined 200 officers and firefighters as part of a last-ditch effort to avoid an emergency manager, the Free Press has learned.
Mayor Dave Bing, under intense pressure to cut costs before the city runs out of cash in April, also is urging police and firefighters to accept 10% pay cuts and other concessions.
Police officers and firefighters expressed disbelief, saying public safety is chronically understaffed in a city with alarmingly high murder and arson rates.
"They are dismissing the human aspect of this -- they are just looking at the numbers," Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Firefighters Association, said of administration officials. "They aren't looking at the people who would be affected. If you want any city at all, you have to have effective public safety so people feel safe."
City officials said there's no choice as the state begins an intense review of Detroit's finances amid a growing budget crisis that may lead to massive service cuts, the state appointment of an emergency manager and even bankruptcy.
Public safety represents about half the city's $1.2-billion budget.
Fire Department officials are planning to cut about $12.5 million from the department's $183.4-million budget. Because a majority of the budget is payroll, officials are targeting up to 110 positions for elimination, according to the firefighters union.
Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin said his administration is still working through the number of potential layoffs.
He said the department is looking into a federal grant that, if awarded, could prevent layoffs or help bring back laid-off firefighters.
Austin said five to 10 fire companies could be shuttered, but the goal is to avoid any closures. He said eight companies are already closed each day, with seven permanently closed and two others alternating being closed. Austin said 59 companies are operating daily.
Police officials hope to mitigate layoffs by seeking adjustments to two federal grants that, if approved, would allow the department to retain officers -- likely saving 75-100 jobs.
But to demonstrate the hardship, the department still has to issue layoff notices, which could happen within the next month, an official said.
The Police Department's expected budget cuts -- about $12.5 million -- would reduce the spending plan to about $385 million.
After a report by Ernst & Young showed Detroit was about to run out of cash, the city began issuing layoff notices to 1,000 workers, looking for assets to sell and asking unions to open their contracts and accept more than $100 million in annual concessions.
And that's just the beginning of a process city officials warned would be painful for residents.
Bing pledged a strategic approach to mitigate the budget reductions.
"As I've repeatedly maintained, public safety is my top priority for the citizens of Detroit," Bing said. "These services must be delivered more efficiently and strategically, and assure that the city is effectively covered and protected.
"We are currently in negotiations with our public safety unions and further comment will have to wait until final agreements are reached."