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The Columbia Firefighters Association is asking for citizens to call on city leaders in an effort for City Council to lay out their long term plans to fully fund public safety.  While we do not stand for or against either proposed Special Tax District; the Columbia Firefighters Association however, cannot support any project that further diverts sustained tax revenue away from critical public safety needs.

As stated in the February 4^th, 2010 Opinion Editorial of the State Paper; “The city can't afford to establish special tax districts that would siphon money away from more immediate, basic service needs to pay for projects aimed at jump-starting development in two areas of town.” And further states, “Yet, some on the council want to press on alone with this ill-timed tax district, which would divert future tax dollars needed to shore up basic services.” Each year the fire department must outline its $19.7 million budget in detail, yet the looming creation of $190 Million tax district has no definitive plans. There is now even a proposed tax increase to replace the city’s deteriorating emergency vehicle fleet.

Twist no words; the Columbia Fire Department’s resignation rate increased 45% last year with many of those resignations coming just in the last 6 months.  Additionally, over the last three years the fire department alone has lost 95 firefighting employees.  When considering it costs over $400,000 to run a single probationary fire recruit class for 24 new and inexperienced firefighters, the 3 year cost for employees walking out the door is nearly $1.6 million dollars.  Drastic cuts have been made to employee benefits and pay, simply to turn around and spend even more money on hiring inexperienced new firefighters.  Who can legitimately justify this expense as the cost of doing business?

Our point is simple; we would like to see how our City Council plans to support current public safety needs; as well as the long-term strategic goals of keeping homeowner’s fire insurance rates affordable. We fully agree with re-opening all closed engine companies on March 1^st; but sustained funding must be found or the city will continue to pour funds in to a never-ending employee revolving door. Even when all closed engine companies come back on line; the city as a whole is still two to three fire stations short of decreasing fire response times to meet nationally recognized acceptable levels. Continuing to use firefighter benefits to open closed fire companies is not a long term solution.  Money will be spent on public safety one way or another. Furthermore, once these districts are created, they must somehow be protected with a greater police and firefighting force.

The real question becomes, what level of Public Safety Service do the citizens deserve and the leaders of Columbia and Richland County desire to have.  Do not be fooled; the choice is theirs.

Columbia Firefighters Association

IAFF, Local 793

P.O. Box 210554

Columbia, South Carolina 29221

ColumbiaFirefighters@gmail.com

Twitter.com/CFFA