Chief hopes new program could reduce NSFD overtime hours

The final version of the North Shore Fire Department 2012 budget is $100,000 less than the budget approved earlier this fall.

When the Milwaukee County Board reduced the NSFD's paramedic payment by $180,000, the department was forced to consider additional trimming of an already tight budget.

Fire Chief Robert Whitaker told the board that the budget of $13,743,638 was balanced by both increases in revenue and decreases in expenses.

The department worked with insurance vendors and lowered its insurance costs, eliminated the purchase of a vehicle, reduced the hours of part-time administrative assistants and worked with the union on a pilot program to reduce overtime.

Whitaker said the program, which is used in Madison, could save the department $75,000. The program moves employees between three shifts to save the overtime, he said.

"That is not in contract, but the union has agreed to try it," Whitaker said.

The savings is partially dependent on the county agreeing to make some adjustments in paramedic training to help eliminate the need for overtime, Whitaker said. The county fire departments will ask for the training to be given during duty hours vs. off duty or overtime hours.

Shorewood Village President Guy Johnson, a member of the board, asked if there was an adverse effect to public safety as a result of the changes.

Whitaker said that to avoid overtime some training would be given for two-hour periods three times a month. That could impact paramedic service, he said, but he hopes to work out an agreement with the city of Milwaukee for coverage during training. The NSFD would likely provide coverage to Milwaukee in like situations, he said.

The 2012 budget originally included a $375,000 payment from the county as a subsidy for paramedic services. That was cut to $195,000.