When they eliminate all the "consultants" and special projects then look at Public Safety administration, then when you are totally broke cut back the officers. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT IS PUBLIC SAFETY!!!!! Look at Atlanta's current budget crisis...Yes, the firefighters and police are not fighting fires, criminals every minute of their shifts but when it is necessary they are there...Look at what happened in Charleston when firefighter cuts were made...11 deaths..

It is for the safety of the firefighters and the citizens that a national standard of 4 firfighters per truck was established. The county laid off 28 firefighters and could possibly cut more depending on what budget is adopted for 2009. So what can you do about it? Every citizen of South Fulton should contact Commissioners Bill Edwards, Rob Pitts, Emma Darnell and John Eaves and tell them to support a $13.5 million dollar budget for the Fulton County Fire Department.

Due to the current budget problems, it is estimated that the SSD for south Fulton is about 10 million short. There will have to be a tax increase for the SSD. But South Fulton millage rate is 5.67. A 2-3 mil tax increase will increase tax per $100,000 in value between 40 to $100 per year. Personally I would rather pay a higher tax with an increased public safety than a higher insurance rate with another wealthy CEO benefitting!!

Well, if you want four per truck answering calls, just have one truck!

Call other stations if you need two!

Nitpickers,

Simple question for you. What is more important for a governement to provide than the safety of the public and their property?

You don't do "safety."

You pick up the pieces, generally.

The fire is burning and the heart has attacked!

That is what I speak from when I speak about the fire service. I have been a firefighter for 18 years. And yes, Bonkers we do "safety" It is called CRR-Community Risk Reduction. Education provided to school kids about fire safety, smoke detector programs, exit drills, inspection and pre-fire planning. It is all about safety.

Can we reverse the damage to a burning house? No. But we can prevent the rest of the house from burning down. We can also prevent the house next door from catching on fire. Which is very important if that house is yours. Can we prevent futher damage to the heart? Yes. And with the right treatment we can basically stop the heart attack in its tracks. The treatment is Nitro and asprin and oxygen. Believe me there are people walking around today that would be in a grave if it was not for a well trained and well equiped fire crew arriving in a timely manner and doing their sworn job. What price do you put on that?

Call another station? Suppose station 5 responds to a medical call but has to call station 7 for help because of staffing shortages. Who will respond to a call in station 7's territory. How many stations need to be called? Who becomes unprotected. Tell Creflo Dollar that he has no fire protection because of budget cuts and staffing shortages. I agree with the tax millage rate increase.
Another item- The fire chief states that staffing cuts will not affect fire protection. Your idea of calling another station just means more cost in fuel and maintenance for the equipment.