Wouldn’t there be cost savings from contracting with the larger ConFire and AMR?
Not necessarily. Con Fire’s operating budget for FY 2009/10 is $99,771,764 and they currently have 30 fire companies [3 firefighters each]. Based on Con Fire’s approved budget and number of companies, their cost per company is $3.326 million for fire service alone, and that cost does not include ambulance service. MOFD’s total budget of $18.67 million, including ambulance service, breaks down into roughly $2.95 million per company (i.e., five 3-person fire and two 2-person ambulance companies or 6.33 companies). Plus, we are getting the benefit of cross-trained firefighter/paramedics which is critical when there is a fire. When there is a fire, they work as firefighters. When there is a medical emergency, they work as paramedics. With cross-trained staff we get two for a little more than the price of one, a very cost-effective way to provide service in our low density community with its corresponding low call volume.
