A CONSULTING FIRM HIRED BY THE CITY OF VENICE SAYS THE CITY’S FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD STAND A TWENTY PERCENT REDUCTION IN FIRST RESPONDERS. THE FIRE CHIEF SAYS THAT CAN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT RISKING LIVES. AT A WEDNESDAY BUDGET MEETING, CHIEF JOHN REED SAID HE HAS OTHER OPTIONS TO COME UP WITH THE MILLION DOLLARS IN SAVINGS THE CITY NEEDS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. HE SUGGESTED THEY COULD ALLOW SOME OF THE HIGHER PAID FIREFIGHTERS TO RETIRE EARLY, WHICH WOULD CUT THE NUMBER OF LAYOFFS FROM NINE TO FIVE. REED ALSO SAID MONEY COULD BE SAVED BY ELIMINATING A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TEAM AND CUTTING OVERTIME BY A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH COULD AFFECT FREE SERVICES GIVEN TO NON PROFITS DURING EVENTS. WHILE THAT SOUNDS A BIT DRASTIC, IT STILL LEAVES THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SHORT OF THE MILLION AND CITY LEADERS SAY THE BUDGET MUST BE BALANCED. THE CUTS COULD ALSO RAISE THE RATES RESIDENTS PAY FOR INSURANCE.
