In its requested budget for 2016-2017, the Portland Fire & Rescue budget advisory committee “struggled” to announce that the city may have to eliminate up to 65 firefighter positions, reports koin.com
The fire bureau, like all city bureau’s, has been asked by the mayor to submit budget requests that reflect a 5% cut. According to the documents first obtained by KOIN 6 News, the fire bureau is being requested to cut $5.1 million from its budget.
Lt. Rich Tyler, a spokesperson for the fire bureau, cautioned that the proposals by the committee are not finalized and will still need to be reviewed by the mayor and a decision on citywide budget cuts will not be made until later.
The fire bureau’s budget committee said the $5.1 million reduction could be accomplished by eliminating four of the bureau’s Rapid Response Vehicle units and closing two stations and companies, which would eliminate 52 emergency response positions. That number, according to the committee, could increase to a total of 65 positions, if the city council does not authorize 13 current firefighter positions that are being funded through a grant.
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