Sheboygan's Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to Determine What City Will Look Like

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Excerpt: The Sheboygan Fire Department is a topic of discussion again as the city officials look at cost-saving alternatives that could include shutting down fire stations and reducing staff as the city prepares to deal with a budget shortfall next year.

On Monday night, the Common Council referred a report from Fire Chief Jeff Hermann to its Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee to consider five options for the Fire Department.

[snip]

Versey believes the department could be run more efficiently to achieve cost savings.

"The Fire Department is one of the biggest ones in the city that you can scale back and still keep public safety high," he said.

The Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee, which is made up of chairmen of the council's five standing committees, also will be looking at the long-range plans of other city departments as part of a yearlong project to look at ways the city could save money in an expected tight budget for 2012 and beyond.

A committee meeting date has not been set.

"The committee is going to decide what the city will look like, not just what the Fire Department looks like," said Versey, who is not on the Strategic Fiscal Planning Committee.  [Emphasis added.]

Ald. Jim Bohren, who is a committee member, said he prefers to keep the Fire Department as it is, but he said the city is facing a $677,000 reduction in state aid next year and a way to close the gap could be found in current negotiations with the police and firefighter unions.

Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
Possible double whammy for Shawano City-County Library.  (8/15/2011)
Portage County Executive looks to "create a bridge to a new design, a way of functioning on less".. (8/15/2011)
Antigo cuts fire, police positions.  (8/15/2011)
Adding up the budget numbers in the Fox Valley.  (8/14/2011)
Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)