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REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Fire departments protect homeowners by respecting their pocketbooks

Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions

By deciding to combine four suburban fire districts, Jefferson County’s firefighters are fulfilling government’s highest priority – keeping its citizens safe – by using sound economic policy.

The Worthington, Lyndon, St. Matthews, and Harrods Creek districts have taken the bold step to join together and form the county’s largest fire department. The new district will cover 65 square miles and have a yearly budget of $10 million.

By combining their resources and working together, the new department will lower response times to emergencies. In some cases, Fire and EMT crews will be able to get to victims up to a minute faster.

Before merging, the closest fire station could not respond to calls from businesses like Mall St. Matthews and Holiday Manor. Now these areas and countless homes will be better protected at a lower cost.

Firefighters will now share equipment, which will make them better able to serve the needs of their communities. Personnel also can learn more from their peers in joint training sessions. And departments can avoid raising taxes by sharing purchasing and maintenance costs.

The only jobs that will be eliminated by the merger will be those held by the four departments’ lawyers and accountants.

Taking steps to deliver better services and keep people safe is admirable. Doing so while maintaining excellent stewardship of taxpayer’s money is even better.

Sources:
“Fire districts set for merger,” Louisville Courier-Journal

Jefferson County Fire Department
 

The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions is an independent, non-partisan association of writers, speakers and thinkers who analyze state and local public policy in Kentucky, and suggest alternatives more in concert with the ideas of our founders: Individual liberty, economic freedom, personal responsibility and a respect for others. http://www.bipps.org

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