There have been talks about tax cuts within the State of Texas for some time now, and well, the proposals are in and it is not comforting.
Because of the state of Texas's Financial struggle you will see a lack, or rather, a decline in the service you recieve when you call for help when your house is on fire or your mother is having a heart attack. Here are the proposed cuts.
In Austin TX:
1. they are reducing minimum staffing of engines from 4 people, to 3 people.
2. Close 1 Station of their 43
In Dallas TX:
1. Outsourcing EMS.. (if you have ever applied to a private ambulance company you know there are major flaws in there system and that most of the people who are hired, are merely hired because no one else will)
2. 637 Full-Time positions are to be eliminated. including 347 layoffs.
3. a $190 Million dollar in budget cuts for Fire Protection And Fire Service.
In Fort Worth, TX:
1. Eliminating Retiree Health Benefits for new hires.
2. Reducing overtime for Firefighter manditory to hold over if lack of staffing on next shift. (this means the firefighter works 48hours straight and not getting paid any extra for it)
In Longview, TX:
1. Eliminate the Fire Inspector position and create 2 float positions
2. Reassign 1 Administrative staff Battalion Chief position to a Suppression position.
In Houston, TX:
1. $10 Million FD Budget cut
2. Close 7 of the 18 Medic Squads
3. Limit overtime for training.
In Garland, TX:
1. Salary Reduction of 1.5%
2. Consolidating 2 engines and 2 ladders into single quints.
These are just a few of the many cuts City Counsels are forcing our Fire Departments around Texas to make. It is easy for them to put a price on peoples lives and propertys when its not their problem now or their house is burning now. But the effects are effecting everybody and the Public Service field is getting hit hard just like Teachers.
My question to you is what are you going to do when your house burns down? Or because of the shortfall of Ambulance service in your area is cut and the closest ambulance is 30minutes away? You have to understand that when a confirmed Cardiac Arrest is witnessed, you literally only have 4 minutes to revive that person, at 10 minutes theres a 5-10% chance that they will survive despite advanced medical procedures...
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