WESTMINSTER : Cuts in Fire Dept., City Benefits Urged

The city’s Financial Review Committee has recommended slashing the Fire Department’s budget by $1.9 million and reducing benefits for all city employees by $1.7 million.

In its hourlong presentation Tuesday to the City Council, representatives of the 10-member panel said that the Fire Department spends more than $1 million yearly in overtime pay for its 70 members and should find a way to eliminate that expense.

The committee, created in 1991 to review city expenditures, also proposed cutting an undetermined number of positions to save money.

“We’ve had no suggestions from the Fire Department of how to cut costs, or data of how to look at successes around the county,� said committee member Ray Magii, who in his presentation said that calls to the department have gone down but expenses continue to increase.

“These recommendations would decimate operations as we have them in the city,� said Acting Fire Chief Don Herr. “Some of the statistics were accurate, but the evaluation and assessment was off.�

The council ordered an analysis of the report’s findings from the fire chief and city manager. The Fire Department’s budget in 1992 was $7.5 million.

In its recommendations to cut benefits and salaries, the committee suggested reducing entry-level salaries by 30%, reducing sick leave to six days annually and limiting employee medical benefits.

Westminster is facing a $3-million budget deficit. The committee, which spent more than 500 hours evaluating the Fire Department, city benefits and salaries, is made up of volunteers appointed by council members.

The council will take the committee’s recommendations into account when it begins its budget hearings in two weeks. The committee will next evaluate other departments, including the Police Department, and will look into ways for the city to increase revenue.