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Firefighters press city for short-term funding as council discusses longer-term tax and grant options
Summary
Firefighters and their representatives told the Hannibal City Council the department is losing personnel and needs short-term financial relief while pursuing grants and possible ballot measures for long-term stability.
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Firefighters and union representatives urged the Hannibal City Council on Feb. 4 to find short-term budget fixes to stop a wave of departures and to speed efforts on longer-term funding options, including federal SAFER grants and a possible public-safety tax.
Fire department leaders told the council staffing and retention have deteriorated. Steve Meyer, identified in the record as a union representative, said the department is effectively short several full crews and that pay and insurance costs leave many firefighters working second jobs. “We’re hemorrhaging people at such a rate that one station being shut down may not be the end of it,” Meyer said during public comments.
Firefighter Will Baker, who said he has served 16 years with the Hannibal Fire…
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