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Fire commissioners John McClintock and Ray Brown refused to bring the proposal to a vote, saying they doubt it would work and they can't justify hiring paramedics when voters denied a levy twice.
"We'd be the only one funding paramedics by crippling ourselves in other areas. Everyone else goes to the voters," McClintock said. "I would never personally fund a program on the backs of the volunteers."
The fire district, which covers 80 square miles, is the only one of its size in the area that doesn't have its own paramedics. It contracts for paramedic services from neighboring fire departments.
"We're not against paramedics. We voted unanimously to support (them). We spent $30,000 on elections for a levy, but it was turned down twice," said Chief Bob Merritt, who disputes Portmann's numbers.
In fall 2001 and last spring, the district tried to pass a levy to hire eight around-the-clock paramedics. The levy was narrowly defeated both times.
"Not one district or department finances paramedics out of their budget without a levy," McClintock said. "We can't afford this expensive program out of internal funds."
The district is facing shortfall in light of taxing limitations approved by voters. Initiative 747 capped the amount of taxes the district can collect from 6 percent to 1 percent, costing it about $160,000 a year. The district used reserve funds to balance this year's budget.
"I can't see starting a new program when the financial future is bleak," Merritt said. "We are looking at cutting programs, and people may lose their jobs."
But Portmann says there's money in the budget to hire paramedics. His proposal calls for using money for contract services, cutting the number of volunteer positions at night by two and limiting the holiday double-time rate for volunteers to the actual holiday worked.
Currently, if volunteers work a Monday holiday, they are paid double time for the holiday and the weekend leading up to the holiday. These reductions could save the district about $118,000, according to Portmann.
"We just need to redirect the money we're spending. It's a limited program, but I think we could improve service," he said.
The paramedics would work 24-hours shifts, adding full-time firefighters to the three stations overnight. The district's 11 union firefighters work weekdays, and its 80 volunteers man the stations overnight and on the weekends.
The district has the largest volunteer program in the area, more than double the number of volunteer firefighters in the Lake Stevens and Monroe fire districts. And the volunteer program seems to be at the heart of the conflict over Portmann's proposal.
"I believe this is an argument because this is a volunteer department," Portmann said. "I think tradition is getting in the way of progress."
Jason Hodkinson, president of the union, said the volunteer system is flawed and is jeopardizing service.
"We have a problem with the system. We're frustrated how much the volunteers earn. We're frustrated that some of our stations are left empty because these guys leave early for their day jobs," said Hodkinson, who started out as a volunteer.
Some volunteers have earned more than $20,000 a year.
"We're not trying to get rid of them, but I don't think they can be called volunteers when they're making that kind of money," Hodkinson said. "I think if the money was spent better, we could afford some of these programs, like paramedics."
Shawn Osborne, president of the volunteer board, did not return calls to The Herald. The Snohomish city councilman earned $12,518 last year as a volunteer.
Merritt argues that the volunteers save the district as much as $2 million a year.
"It's an incredible cost savings for taxpayers. We are a rural district. We don't have the tax base to replace all our volunteers with career firefighters," he said. "We're trying to provide the best service with the money we have."
The volunteers also provide other community services such as teaching classes and raising money for the needy, Burch said.
"We are not abusing the system. We save the taxpayers money," he said. "I'm not against (paramedics), but I don't think this plan will work right now."
Portmann says he will not give up on his proposal despite opposition by the other two commissioners.
"It has to be our mission to improve services to the community. I think it's a valid proposal," he said. |
