Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Firefighters warn of staff reductions as federal grant funding ends; board discusses benefit assessment options
Summary
Local firefighters told the board that a federal grant that funds three positions will expire in July, removing near‑term capacity; union leaders urged pay, benefits and retention changes while the board signaled interest in exploring benefit assessments and other funding options.
Cambria firefighters and union leaders told the board June 12 they face immediate staffing losses when a FEMA grant funding three positions ends July 1.
Michael Casanos, president of Local 4635, told directors those three grant‑funded positions represent a 25% reduction for the grant‑funded segment of the department and urged the board to act to retain locally knowledgeable firefighters. "That first challenge we face is in July when our federal grant money runs out and we lose three of our local firefighters. That's a 25% reduction in our workforce," Casanos said.
Board members acknowledged the loss and discussed longer‑term funding options. Several directors referenced prior benefit assessments and suggested updating or expanding a benefits/assessment measure to fund staffing and capital needs; Vice President Thomas and others expressed support for revisiting a benefits assessment that could provide dedicated local revenue for fire protection and preparedness.
Staff said the district has one reserve position retained as emergency backup and that repeated turnover among reserve firefighters — many leave for full‑time positions elsewhere after training — makes a reserve program expensive and less reliable than full‑time staffing. The board asked staff and counsel to review assessment options and return with proposals and legal considerations.
Next steps: staff to explore updated benefit assessment options, clarify cost and legal limits, and report back to the board and committees.
