EMS RESPONDER: Ohio Committee Questions Need for Paramedics

A committee charged with finding ways for Columbus to save money has recommended that the city return to a basic emergency medical system.

The last time the Columbus Division of Fire provided only basic-level care was in 1968.

Since then, Columbus has provided advanced life support to anyone who calls 911 for medical attention, whether a patient needs it or not.

HERITAGE FOUNDATION: An Analysis of Federal, State, and Local Homeland Security Budgets

MEDIA NEWSWIRE: Ambulance jobs to be slashed by National Party

(Media-Newswire.com) - Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said today he held grave fears that the National Party’s three per cent “efficiency dividend” would result in cuts to vital emergency services.

“This is a front-line service delivery agency providing vital ambulance, fire and rescue and disaster management services. Close to 400 emergency services workers could be slashed every year under the National Party’s cuts,” he said.

Mr Roberts said the National Party would rip away $29.2 million every year from the Department of Emergency Services.

“This is not about redirecting or reinvesting funds and this money is not lying around. It would mean jobs cuts and a reduction in services,“ he said.

The Queensland Government has already conducted efficiency reviews into the Queensland Ambulance Service ( QAS ) and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service ( QFRS ) to redirect resources from non-essential spending to boost front-line service delivery.

CNN: Obama's first budget: Key department figures

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama highlighted education, along with energy and health care, Thursday when he announced the outlines of his first budget. Copies of the Obama administration's 2010 budget go on sale Thursday. The government's fiscal year runs from October of one year to September of the next. Here are some key figures for various departments:

KC STAR: Fixing public safety radio system looms as another big cost for KC

As if the Kansas City Council didn’t have enough financial headaches, it can add one more: the need for a multimillion-dollar public safety radio system.

COMPUTERWORLD: Security Manager's Journal: Exploring low-cost disaster recovery options

January 26, 2009 (Computerworld) Now that my disaster recovery budget for 2009 has been wiped out, I'm trying to find some kind of replacement that won't cost any money upfront. I can't in good conscience sit idly by while we roll out critical services without the safety net of DR -- that's like watching a friend drive without a seat belt. Maybe there's a very good chance that nothing bad will happen, but if something does go wrong, the consequences can be so severe that the overall risk is beyond acceptance.

FIREHOUSE: Atlanta Seeks to End Police, Firefighter Cuts

The Atlanta City Council unanimously agreed Thursday to look for money in the city budget to end recent cuts in work hours for police officers, firefighters, 911 operators and corrections officers.

The idea comes largely in response to growing concerns in Atlanta neighborhoods that crime is becoming a severe problem. Although Police Department figures show violent crime declined by 9 percent from 2007 and 2008, the recent shooting death of a bartender in southeast Atlanta has sparked complaints from residents about crime and whether the city has enough police officers.

FIREHOUSE: Arizona Fire District Laid Off; Station Closed

WHITE MOUNTAIN LAKE, Ariz. -- The fire station in White Mountain Lake is closed and the entire staff of the fire district has been laid off indefinitely following an announcement that the district has a deficit of about $400,000.

At a meeting of the district's Governing Board last Tuesday night, Fire Chief Joe Blake told an awestruck audience that the district currently has a negative balance of nearly half a million dollars.

HAWK EYE: Dispute sparks over EM budget

Gina Hardin believes the county's emergency management department's budget is set in stone once approved by the EM Commission.

Des Moines County Board Chairman Jeff Heland contends county supervisors have a say in how much taxpayer money should be allocated to fund the two-person department.

The disagreement is one of several differences of opinion between the board and Hardin, the county's emergency management coordinator, to surface at a recent budget hearing.

REGISTER-GUARD: Officials urge hike in funds for county’s public safety

Lane County public safety officials said Thursday that the system needs more money — a day after the county board indicated it hopes only to hold the line on public safety funding next year.

District Attorney Alex Gardner and Sheriff Russ Burger said the county public safety system is falling apart, and they’ll ask the board to direct more money next year to the Lane County Jail and other public safety and social services.

But both said they’re also well aware of the county’s stark revenue shortage, and they acknowledged the possibility that their pleas will go unanswered.

“We talk to the commissioners all the time, and ultimately the decision over whether to mitigate the public safety crisis is theirs,” Gardner said. “Obviously, the judges and the district attorney and the sheriff are going to continue to say, ‘Not only is (the public safety system) broken, but it’s getting worse.’ ”

AHWAUTUKEE FOOTHILL NEWS: Public safety escapes most proposed budget cuts

The proposed city budget includes cuts totaling more than $270 million, including elimination of the after-school program, slashed library hours, elimination of the service counter at the Pecos Park Community Center, less park and street maintenance, rotating closures of city pools, cuts to the ALEX schedule, 1,200 positions being eliminated and much more.

What it doesn't include are reductions to the public safety budget, which will actually see a $6.7 million increase. But that is a drop in the bucket compared to the increased cost of living or personnel costs the police and fire departments would normally have received.

CULLMAN TIMES: Hanceville public safety director resigns

The Hanceville public safety director agreed to resign Wednesday after he learned his position would be removed from the city’s 2009 budget to cut costs.

BUFFALO NEWS: Who will handle homeland security for the county?

LOCKPORT — The Niagara County Legislature cut a homeland defense director job out of the 2009 budget last week, but the question of who will handle homeland security chores for the county remains unsettled.

The homeland security post, which would have cost $51,608 in salary and nearly $23,000 in benefits, fell victim to a 13-6 vote to delete it at the Dec. 16 budget adoption meeting.

Legislature Majority Leader Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport, said at the time, “We’re going to work on finding a more efficient way of providing these services. . . . We’re not committed to eliminating this position.”

Updegrove later elaborated on that. “We’re looking for a way to fulfill those duties within our existing structure,” he said.