Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCU Student Report Examination of Fire Protection Alternatives 2009An Examination of Alternatives to Ithaca’s Fire Protection System Presented by Chandra S. Ghosal CIPA Public Service Exchange May 8, 2009 The Current Situation ⚫Unlike cities and villages, towns are not obligated to directly provide fire protection services to its citizens ⚫The Town of Ithaca currently utilizes both the Village of Cayuga Heights and the City of Ithaca to provide fire protection for the Town of Ithaca Fire Protection District ⚫The costs of this protection has been steadily increasing from year to year Risings Costs of Fire Protection ⚫The total cost of fire protection has been increasing steadily over the life of the contract 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Modified Budget 2,447,358.69 2,537,443.84 2,757,000.00 2,908,758.55 3,231,487.88 Percent Change -3.68%8.65%5.50%11.10% Expended Budget 2,447,358.69 2,537,443.84 2,404,091.93 2,908,758.55 3,231,487.88 Percent Change -3.68%-5.26%20.99%11.10% Town of Ithaca Fire Protection Fund Detail of Expenditures Risings Costs of Fire Protection (cont’d) ⚫A portion of the increase in expenses can be attributed to the contract with Cayuga Heights 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Modified Budget 144,640.00 188,475.00 155,000.00 170,737.00 175,998.00 Percent Change -30.31%-17.76%10.15%3.08% Expended Budget 144,640.00 188,475.00 155,000.00 170,737.00 175,998.00 Percent Change -30.31%-17.76%10.15%3.08% Town of Ithaca Fire Protection Fund Detail of Expenditures for the Village of Cayuga Heights Contract Risings Costs of Fire Protection (cont’d) ⚫The vast majority of the expenses are a result of the increases in the contract with the City of Ithaca 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Modified Budget 2,284,555.48 2,329,914.08 2,582,000.00 2,715,605.02 3,051,601.63 Percent Change -1.99%10.82%5.17%12.37% Expended Budget 2,284,555.48 2,329,914.08 2,230,461.61 2,715,605.02 3,051,601.63 Percent Change -1.99%-4.27%21.75%12.37% Town of Ithaca Fire Protection Fund Detail of Expenditures for the City Contract Composition of the Fire Departments ⚫The City of Ithaca currently utilizes 67 career (full time paid) fire fighters and 12 volunteers ⚫The Village of Cayuga Heights utilizes a department staffed entirely by volunteers, most of whom are Cornell University students Composition of the Fire Departments (Cont’d) Type of Fire Department Number of Volunteers Number of Career Number of Stations Brooktondale Volunteer Fire Department Volunteer 22 0 1 Cayuga Heights Fire Department Volunteer 50 0 1 Enfield Volunteer Fire Company Volunteer 43 0 1 Etna Volunteer Fire Company Volunteer 15 0 1 Freeville Fire Department Volunteer 54 0 1 Groton Fire Department Volunteer 90 0 1 Ithaca Fire Department Mostly Career 12 67 4 Lansing Fire Department Volunteer 54 0 1 McLean Fire Department Volunteer 30 0 1 Neptune House Company of Dryden Volunteer 60 0 1 Newfield Fire Company Volunteer 38 0 1 Trumansburg Fire Department Volunteer 50 0 1 Varna Volunteer Fire Company Volunteer Data not available City of Cortland Fire Department*Mostly Career 35 30 2 *City of Cortland Fire Department is located in Cortland County but was included on this table because its Fire Chief was interviewed in the study Trends in Volunteerism ⚫The number of volunteer fire fighters has decreased by nearly 15,000 over the last two decades ⚫The City of Ithaca began to utilize far fewer volunteers over the last thirty years decreasing from a force of 350 in 1977 to 12 in 2009 What Can be Done? ⚫The scope of this study was limited to investigate four scenarios: –Implement a fully volunteer department –Implement a combination department –Implement a fully paid department –Utilize other neighboring municipalities Recommendation ⚫Coordinate with Ithaca College in order to generate interest in a new bunker program ⚫Invest in upgrading the residential facilities in Fire Houses No.’s 5 and 6 to accommodate potential bunkers ⚫Allow bunkers to train under current career staff and allow for the bunkers to take on more responsibilities as current staff retires ⚫Reassign a current administrative employee to serve the role as Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator Recommendation (cont’d) ⚫The Insurance Services Office (ISO) currently suggests that four volunteer staff can typically do the work of one career staff ⚫Interviews suggested that this ratio is closer to 10 to one ⚫The reason for this is the amount of time that a volunteer is available to respond to calls ⚫A bunker system where volunteers live in the station will increase their value as a volunteer and greatly reduce this ratio Recommendation (cont’d) ⚫Upgrading the facilities in Fire Houses No.’s 5 and 6 will entice volunteers into the bunker program ⚫An environment where volunteers like to spend their free time will further compound their value to the station because their hours of availability will increase ⚫A successful bunker program will help to garner more interest in volunteerism in the local community Recommendation (cont’d) ⚫Given the political nature of this issue, it is likely impossible to incentivize the Ithaca Fire Department to downsize any fire fighters ⚫The current well trained career fire fighters can help to proficiently train the bunkers volunteering in the department ⚫As career fire fighters begin to retire, the need to replace them will be greatly reduced given the presence of bunkers Recommendation (cont’d) ⚫Historically, the City of Ithaca had as much as 35 bunkers in its system ⚫Because of the increased time a bunker will devote to volunteer duties, his effectiveness may increase to the point where two bunkers can take the place of one career fire fighter ⚫The average salary for a fire fighter is near $50,000 ⚫If over time the bunker system runs at full capacity, up to 17 career fire fighters can retire before the City would need to replace them ⚫This results in a potential savings of $850,000 Justification ⚫Given the steady decline in volunteer numbers in recent years, the likelihood of fielding sufficient volunteers to staff the volume of calls faced by the Town is unlikely ⚫Implementing our own fully paid fire department would likely result in immediate capital outlays to fund equipment buyout, staff recruitment as well as retention ⚫According to conversations with local Fire Chiefs as well as looking at mutual aid usage, it is unlikely that neighboring municipalities will have the capacity to adequately provide fire protection for the district Conclusion ⚫Given the current fiscal problems faced by most municipalities, finding cost savings is vitally important ⚫Most of the options considered are either not feasible logistically or economically at this point ⚫Despite the need for an initial capital expenditure for renovations and equipment, instilling a robust bunker program affords the best and most feasible opportunity for cost savings over time ⚫As the bunker system improves and volunteerism returns, perhaps the City can return to utilizing the community and saving even more expenses in the future Questions?