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Miami-Dade commissioners question fire department carryover, capacity to lower rising response times
Summary
Commissioners pressed Miami-Dade Fire Rescue leaders and OMB officials about how much carryover and capital reserve is available to staff suppression units and reduce worsening response times, but no new funding actions were taken at the meeting.
Chairman Gonzales and several commissioners questioned Miami-Dade Fire Rescue leaders and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) staff on whether the department has available funds and facilities to place additional suppression units into service to address rising emergency response times.
The discussion opened when Commissioner Higgins asked Fire Chief Ray Dedala and Chief of Public Safety James Reyes to clarify how much of the department’s reported carryover is ‘‘unencumbered’’ and therefore available to address response-time shortfalls. Chief Ray Dedala said ‘‘approximately $44,000,000’’ of carryover is encumbered. James Reyes and Chief Dedala told the commission that some of that carryover is already spoken for because the department added units after the proposed budget was published.
Why it matters: Commissioners said response times have increased and that the department’s five-year operations plan shows a documented need for more suppression companies. Commissioners and fire leadership agreed that strategically placed units and available station space, not just trucks, are required to reduce response times.
Commissione…
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