Posted
by Martina Del Bonta
on Mon Jul 26, 2010
Last updated
Jul 27, 2010
With the city facing close to 3 million dollar budget deficit- and Columbia Fire Department may be the one facing the cuts.
Wednesday, Columbia City Manager Bill Watkins will lay out his 2011 budget. We found out he could propose eliminating at least eight firefighter positions and a fire truck at the station on Worley Street.
Speculation began when an email from Fire Chief William Markgraf spelled out the cuts. In it, it said no one will be laid off, but cuts will be made. Now the
Firefighter's Union is doing what it can to prevent these cuts from happening, hoping people will contact city council.
Under the proposed changes it is likely response time will grow. It appears Station Two off of Worley could be effected the most, possibly losing one of it's two fire trucks. Union members are concerned if the remaining truck is on call, dispatch will have to alert another one farther away.
The City Managers office would not comment on the potential cuts. City Council will get the City Manager's budget tomorrow, one day before he presents it to the public. The Council must approve the budget by September 30th.
