Re “Not Everyone at City Hall Is Broke. Fire Dept. Says Thanks a Million and a Half,” and “Fire Dept. Constant Staffing Is a Matter of Cost Effective Logic”
[Editor’s Note: Last week’s report that the Fire Dept. compiled $1.5 million in overtime for its 63-person roster in calendar year 2010 prompted several responses from Mayor Andy Weissman, the latest one below.]
The Fire Dept. uses two distinctly different types of overtime to accomplish its mission of safeguarding life, property and the environment:
1. Discretionary overtime.
2. Constant staffing.
Discretionary Overtime
Discretionary overtime is used to send personnel to off-duty training and to add staffing for planned events (Presidential visit, 405 Freeway closure, extremely hot and dry weather conditions) that are anticipated to create a significant increase in the demand for services. Discretionary overtime is relatively rare. It must be approved in advance by the Assistant Fire Chief.
Discretionary Overtime History
|
Fiscal Year |
Hours |
Cost |
|
2011-12 |
263 |
$11,835 |
|
2010-11 |
352 |
$15,840 |
|
2009-10 |
69 |
$3,450 |
|
2008-09 |
208 |
$9,360 |
Constant Staffing
Constant staffing funds the operational cost of providing a minimum number of firefighters on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If a firefighter assigned to a 24-hour suppression position is off-duty or on bereavement leave) that position must then be filled (hire back) by another firefighter. If there are no volunteers for the assignment, the department is required to force hire a member to maintain the minimum number of firefighters on duty to protect the community.
The Culver City Fire Dept. currently maintains a minimum staffing level of 18 Suppression/EMS personnel on-duty 24-hours per day, 365 days a year. Staffing must be provided for three engine companies, two paramedic rescues, one aerial ladder truck and one battalion chief command vehicle. When the staffing levels drop below 18, there exists a need to provide additional personnel to maintain the 18 personnel threshold.
• Three engine companies are staffed with one fire captain, one fire engineer and one firefighter.
• One truck company is staffed with one fire captain, one fire engineer and two firefighters.
• Two rescues are staffed with two firefighter paramedics.
• One command chief vehicle is staffed with one battalion chief.
Constant Staffing Less Expensive Option
Constant staffing is currently more cost effective than hiring extra firefighters. The department would have to hire 12 firefighters (four per shift) to serve as relief personnel for the vacancies that occur. The cost of 12 firefighters, salary and benefits, is significantly more than the department’s overtime budget.
Background
In the 1990s, the city made an operational and financial decision to reduce department staffing to the absolute minimum that was needed to meet the demand for services. This reduction consisted of the elimination of the fourth firefighter for the engine companies – 9 firefighters. This reduction in staffing has saved the city money every day since, estimated at over $10 million.
Major Points
• The vast majority (over 99 percent) of the Fire Dept.’s overtime budget is spent to provide 18 firefighters on duty seven days a week/356 days per year.
• Using overtime (constant staffing) is more cost effective than hiring additional firefighters because of the cost of benefits (in 2011 the cost of a safety employee’s benefits was over 55 percent of their annual salary).
• The reductions in staffing that occurred in the 1990s saved the city millions of dollars.
• CCFD has less staffing on engines than any fire department in the West Los Angeles area.
• Culver City’s overtime as a percentage of its overall budget is approximately 12 percent. For other fire departments in the area the number is 20 to 25 percent.
Mr. Weissman may be contacted at andrewweissman@anwlaw.com
