North Shore Fire Chief Concerned About Paramedic Funding Cut

One less man per shift and potentially increased response times.

That's what Chief Robert Whitaker is warning may happen if a proposed $3 million cut to Milwaukee County paramedic services goes into effect.

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele last week announced that he plans to end the payments to county fire departments for paramedic service as part of his 2012 budget.

The move to cut the $3 million in fire department funding is driven by a $55 million budget shortfall for Milwaukee County. However, eliminating what Abele describes as an "out-of-date" practice is not getting positive feedback from fire officials or some county supervisors.

"Candidate Abele pledged to engage in partnerships and dialogues with local units of government to reduce costs and maintain the services our citizens expect. County Executive Abele appears to be taking a contradictory approach to an arrangement with municipalities that has been in place since 1975," County Supervisor Joe Rice said in a statement.

Abele said the cut is an effort to push for more consolidated services, which would save taxpayers money.

"The county faces a $55 million structural deficit, and I’m committed to introducing a budget without a deficit or a levy increase," he said in a statement. "I’m looking for ways to save Milwaukee County taxpayers money, including by reviewing discretionary spending and encouraging consolidation."

What will this cut mean for residents?

Whitaker says that instead of simply slashing one piece of the pie, the current EMS system should be used as an example of an already successful consolidated effort.

"We are consolidated, and if he’s looking at a bigger scale, that’s something that can be discussed at a political level," Whitaker said. "But the EMS program, that’s a perfect example of consolidation already. So rather than tear that program apart, why not use that as the standing shining star for Milwaukee County?"

Abele's is not planning to cut the $4.3 million the county spends to help fire departments with training, equipment and other infrastructure needs. However, those funds cannot be used to pay for personnel.

The $3 million cut would be countywide, and NSFD would specifically see a $362,000 loss, which Whitaker says equates to a one-man-per-shift reduction, hopefully through attrition.

"The positions equate to staffing on the street," Whitaker said."We’ve just reduced our administrative staff for the 2012 budget and that was with this money included. So really, where we’re at, is reducing the number of people we have in the operations division, the staffing you see on the fire engines and ambulances.

"We have to have people on ambulances and fire trucks, it's not a service we can have without people," he said. "Fewer people to deploy mean fewer people we can put out on the street every day."

County Board not supportive of cut

Milwaukee County Supervisor Mark Borkowski echoed the point made by Whitaker — that the current EMS program is a great example of consolidation, and questioned Abele's ability to lead Milwaukee.

"What planet is this man on?" Borkowski said, concerned not only aobut the cut, but the timing as Abele announced this just days after the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacked. "It’s frustrating that this County Executive does not understand the needs of his constituents. He appears to be clueless and out of touch."

Rice echoed the same sentiments in his response press release, pointing out how successful the EMS program already is when considering consolidation.

"It is an example of a cooperative program of shared services and shared costs that deliver overall savings to County taxpayers," Rice said.

An alternative plan

Whitaker says NSFD hopes the county will not look at just cutting out one area to mend an unbalanced budget, but look at the issue with a broader perspective.

"Let’s work together and look at efficiencies across the board rather than cut out the funding to the providers in the field completely," Whitaker said. "Maybe there’s efficiencies in the communications or training side that we could find.

"In reality, this is the best consolidated program the county runs with all the local municipalities."