City Considers Cutting Firefighters To Trim Budget

KOKOMO, Ind. -- Kokomo officials are considering cutting 14 firefighter positions in an effort to trim the city's budget.

The firefighters in question currently man city ambulances, which made about 2,000 runs last year, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

But Mayor Greg Goodnight, a Democrat, said he's investigating whether St. Joseph Hospital ambulances could pick up the additional runs, saving the city up to $1 million a year.

"Before I would do it, I would have the assurance of both hospitals that we are not compromising safety," he said. "If there is a way we can revamp this and not cost jobs, that would be great. If not, we will do what's best for the city as a whole."

Some firefighters said the move could put the public's safety at risk.

"Laying off an additional 14 firefighters when we are four or five firefighters down already would make things unsafe at the scene," said Charles Smalling, a 31-year firefighter veteran.

Goodnight cited a change in the way that trash is picked up in the city, which he said has saved Kokomo $200,000 a year.

He met with the fire chief on Wednesday and has a meeting with a fire department union representative on Friday. Goodnight said he hopes to have the ambulance service issue resolved within the month.