Greenville may restructure fire dept. to balance budget

$750,000 in the red in 2013 budget

City of Greenville administration appear to be in the process of restructuring the fire department in hopes of helping to balance the city's 2013 budget.

A copy of a memo given to council members Tuesday night, addressed to the council finance committee, recommends immediate reduction of the fire department by 4 firefighters, reducing the department to a "a 16 man department," stated in the August 7, 2012 memo.

The same recommendation would abolish the position of assistant fire chief, and reduces the current assistant chief to the pay scale for a fire captain. It also eliminates the position of secretary for the fire department.

The same report also does away with the secretary's position with the police department, along with the city building custodian and one street department worker.

The plan calls for immediate implementation once reviewed by the finance committee and approved by the city council.

The total estimated savings would be $510,991.

The deficit going into the city's 2013 budget is $750,000, said Mayor Mike Bowers.

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