Indiana: Fire privatization proposal prompts debate on safety
According to The Star Press:
MUNCIE -- Safety is at the center of a debate on whether the city should privatize its fire department.
There's no doubt a private fire department would cost less than the current public fire department, according to Ball State University economist Michael Hicks.
"The question is: Do you get the same service?" Hicks said.
Mayor Sharon McShurley announced Monday she was considering -- among other things -- privatizing the Muncie Fire Department to help compensate for an expected shortfall of $7 million in tax revenue between 2009 and 2010 combined. The city is expected to spend about $9.5 million on the fire department in 2008, or a little more than one-third of the general fund.
Hicks and Muncie Fire Sgt. Mike Whited represent opposite ends of the fire privatization debate. Hicks supports privatization, whereas Whited does not.
Whited is vice president of Local 1348 firefighters union.
A private fire department, Whited said, would put profits before public safety. Whited doubted that privatization would find support among the general public, pointing to the fact that hundreds of fire department supporters attended Monday's council meeting.
"Muncie firefighters have a vested interest in this community," Whited said. "Not every firefighter lives in the city but a lot of us own property in the city limits or have businesses in the city limits. It's our friends and family and people we know that we are making runs to."
Hicks disagreed, saying opponents of fire privatization try to frame the debate on emotions rather than on evidence. The savings related to operating an efficient business model simply outweigh any risks, Hicks said.
"You'd be hard pressed to find any good evidence that privatizing a fire department dampened public safety," Hicks said... click to continue.
