Fire Protection Suffers While Board Members Spend on Themselves
THE SAN MIGUEL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT in San Diego County, California, is over budget for the fourth year in a row and wants to bail out by "outsourcing" their fire protection coverage. The taxpayers are understandably outraged at the Board's attempt following several years of spending money without considering the consequences.
This current fiscal year they have a $1.3 million budget deficit and can't seem to find any more ways to cut spending.
The FPD has but 8 fire stations and undermans all of them with 3 FF's per engine. They operate one ladder truck. Recently the district took one engine out of service and replaced it with a 2-man "rescue" unit. The FPD does not provide ambulance service. Despite that, they are still spending more than their $19.6 million budget.
Headquarters Station (from website)
The Board of Directors is composed of seven members elected by the citizens to 4-year terms. Even though it is only a part-time job, the directors pay themselves $165 for each of their 18 meetings plus full health-care coverage to the tune of $90,000 per year (and another $14,203 for one retired director).
There is some discrepancy in what the fire chief's salary is. The State Controller's Office says that he is paid $214,442 and the chief says that he is "only" paid $174, 000 to manage 8 stations and 86 full-time employees.
You can read this year's operating budget (.pdf) HERE.
Now they are considering contracting out to another FD to run their calls, preferabley CalFire, yet continue to collect "administrative" fees that will continue their gravy train.
KGTV ran this video report recently about this solution:
East County Magazine has more on this story HERE.
San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District WEBSITE.
Hat tip: Mark Donovan
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