Where does Gilroy rank in terms of spending money on fire
services? It depends on which numbers you choose. Gilroy spends a
higher percentage of its budget on its fire department than any
other city in Santa Clara County but is the second most frugal in
per capita costs behind Morgan Hill. Full article
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Where does Gilroy rank in terms of spending money on fire services? It depends on which numbers you choose.
Gilroy spends a higher percentage of its budget on its fire department than any other city in Santa Clara County but is the second most frugal in per capita costs behind Morgan Hill, according to a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury report released June 15.
While those figures have been called into question, the report also makes several points clear, including the fire-engine-first method of responding to emergencies is outdated and that the consolidation of emergency services and dispatchers must be explored.
“My visceral reaction is not very positive,” Gilroy Fire Chief Dale Foster said of the report drafted by volunteers selected by County court judges.
Detailed in the watchdog report that offers suggestions for more economic efficiency, Gilroy spent 21 percent of its budget on its fire department in 2010 – the highest percentage in the county, according to the report. The accuracy of those figures has been questioned, however, including whether the report reflect cities’ overall budgets or their just their general funds.
The report lists Gilroy’s 2010 budget as $33.7 million, though that only accounts for the city’s general fund, far less than its total operating budget, said City Administrator Tom Haglund.
“Something doesn’t seem right to me,” Haglund said Monday while reviewing the report.
In the City of Gilroy’s 2011-12 budget, the city plans to spend roughly $8.8 million on fire services out of its $112 million operating budget – less than 8 percent.
Another example: Sunnyvale’s 2010 budget is listed as $228 million in the report, though its general fund totals for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11 are approximately $138.4 million and $128.7 million respectively.
The report also lists two different per capita totals for Gilroy – $156 and $157 – in two separate charts.
“That stands out to me in terms of the accuracy of the data,” Haglund said.
Councilman Dion Bracco said Haglund told him the city would be sending a response to the grand jury regarding its findings.
“As far as I am aware of, the data is accurate. But even the grand jury does make math errors,” Gilroy City Councilman Perry Woodward said. “I haven’t seen anything nor have I heard anything that the calculations are inaccurate.”
The report criticizes standard emergency response services countywide, including the practice of sending full-blown fire crews as first responders when 4 percent of all calls are fire-related and one-third of firefighters are trained as paramedics.
The current response model “does not match today’s emergency response needs,” according to the report.
“It is not uncommon under this model to see several fire apparatus at a scene, regardless whether they are needed,” the report states.
Woodward said the report was “right on the mark.”
“We’re rolling fire trucks out to medical emergencies. That just doesn’t make sense,” Woodward said. “The current model needs to be re-examined holistically. There are entrenched political interests preventing that.”
The Council chose not to study the pros and cons of contracting out its fire services with either the Santa Clara County Fire Department or CalFire during its March 28 meeting, opting to retain the current system following a brief discussion.
Councilman Bob Dillon said in March that seeing “Gilroy” emblazoned on the side of fire engines, and the fact that firefighters made significant concessions during past budget negotiations, gave him cause to keep the status quo.
Morgan Hill contracts with the South County Fire District for its fire services, but “Morgan Hill” remains on the side of the engines.
Woodward was the lone dissenter during the discussion.
“If we’re going to continue to spend the kind of money we are because some Council members like it to say ‘Gilroy’ on the side of the truck, I think there’s going to be problems,” Woodward said Monday. “Firefighters are a political force, and we’re going to have to confront that.”
Dillon said Monday he was “satisfied” with the city’s current fire budget.
“Everybody complains about the cost of the fire department until you need them there yesterday,” Dillon said.
He said he might vote in favor of following through on some of the report’s suggestions – including consolidating fire and ambulance services –if other Council members were open to it.
“I’m willing to consider it if three other people are,” Dillon said.
Dillon said he wasn’t up to having a lengthy set of debates over the future of fire service in Gilroy, but agreed the fire-engine first model had likely past its prime.
“I think it was a good suggestion. I think it bears looking at,” he said.
Bracco said he didn’t agree with the practice of responding to medical call with “all this equipment when you don’t really need it,” but he wasn’t ready to give up local control over fire services.
“Gilroy fire department is very well run. I think we’re OK right now,” he said. “I don’t think the sky is falling in Gilroy.”
With the resources the way they are, changes to the current system likely won’t come quickly, Haglund said.
“There are far fewer ambulances than there are fire apparatus positioned around the county. An ambulance takes longer to get to particular location maybe nine out of 10 times – at least eight out of 10,” Haglund said. “All fire agencies service as a first responder because they get there the fastest.”
Haglund said there had been no talks over whether the emergency response model could change.
“I have not heard of a discussion of changing that model. Could it change over time? Sure,” Haglund said.
“I think that we always have to keep an eye out for any types of efficiencies over time. You just always keep an open mind and try to evaluate those possibilities.”
