This is just one of the many results that we’re seeing here in Taunton due to the fine budgeting and political process that we’re seeing between the Mayor, the City Council, and others in City government.
Years of nice surpluses gave them extra money over the last decade. So what did they do? They spent it.
Now we don’t have a rosy economy and they’re unable to reducing spending to a reasonable level because they’ve acted like pigs at a trough.
I want my police and fire departments staffed at levels that make sense and provide a safe and crime-free environment here in Taunton – so do my neighbors.
Get it done…
TAUNTON — Fire Chief Thomas Downey Jr. says his department will run out of money to pay for electricity and gas to operate the fire stations and gasoline to fuel the trucks by April under the current budget.
He added that taking fire equipment out of service is the only way to make his budget work even that well.
In an effort to save jobs during the city%u2019s extreme fiscal stress, Downey proposed allowing seven firefighter positions to go unfilled before firefighters are called in for overtime pay.
As a result, Downey has cut his overtime expenditures from last year sevenfold.
But there has been a cost, noticed by citizens who see signs stating that the Central Fire station is closed, as it is when seven firefighters miss work because of sickness or vacation. [Taunton Gazette]