Friday, January 20, 2012 - 12:15
WHAT IS CB65?
CB65 states that for the betterment of the County residents, the County has the power to reorganize the Fire Commission. To that effect, CB65 passed behind closed doors without the input of the Fire Department Volunteers. CB65 allows the County Executive to appoint members to the Fire Commission. Prior to CB65, the Fire Commission was made up and voted on by Volunteers from each County Fire Station to manage the approximately $13 million dollars that is budgeted by the County. This is separate from the approximately $118 million that is budgeted for the Fire/EMS Department run by the County Fire Chief, Mark Bashoor.
HOW DOES THIS HELP COUNTY RESIDENTS?
It doesn’t! Volunteers currently save the County millions in dollars by donating not only their time, but their safety to help YOU the residents. Compare the $118 million to manage career Fire/EMS employees to the $13 million Volunteers are able to run their fire stations. If CB65 is allowed to stay in place, the $13 million will be absorbed back into the general operating budget and managed by the newly appointed Fire Commission which will be managed by the Fire Chief. So what will happen to the Volunteers? How will they manage on money that will take weeks to approve and doled out in small increments?
WHAT WILL THIS DO TO THE COUNTY BUDGET?
Volunteers save the County money. How? When the career staff go off duty at 3pm, the Volunteers step in to keep you safe. Volunteers staff the fire stations from 3pm - 7am, Monday through Friday, as well as all day Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and furlough days. Also, the apparatus is owned by the Volunteers, paid for by fundraisers. Volunteers, for years, have brought their annual finances in under budget and then the excess has been absorbed back into the general operating budget to help bolster the County’s depleted budget. Remember why County employees are being furloughed? Lack of funds. Volunteers consistently come well within budget and now the County is trying to do away with a system that has helped them year after year. Ask yourself why? With the current economic landscaping, how will the County be able to manage Fire/EMS with the same budget, personnel, apparatus maintenance and limited volunteers? Where will it come from? Why, it will come from YOU! Their hands will once again be reaching into your pockets to make up the deficit this bill will bring.
This bill, CB65, is all about CONTROL! Not about what’s best for the communities in Prince George’s County, but how an administration can take a system that has worked for years and reorganize it on the word of one or two people that want to keep the volunteers under their thumbs.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Tell the County Executive, the County Council, and the Fire Chief that this bill does not help you. It only helps them to control the one system that isn’t about money! Repeal CB 65 and let them know it should be about a group of people that give to their communities every day - our volunteer Firefighters and EMS who work for you because they are one of you. They live in your neighborhoods and give their time to train and keep you safe. SIGN THE PETITION AND SAY NO TO CB65!