The practically $2 million Gov. Maura Healey minimize in native earmarks for roughly three dozen hearth departments throughout Massachusetts final month gained’t be restored, however her administration says it nonetheless helps firefighters.
Healey worn out $1.68 million for native hearth departments as a part of the $375 million minimize she made to the state funds in early January, with the Bay State going through an anticipated $1 billion shortfall this fiscal yr.
Healey’s administration made the huge discount to the funds in response to 6 months of missed income marks.
The discount in native earmarks have been designed to have the smallest impression potential on hearth departments, the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security instructed the Herald this week. Despite the shortfall, this yr’s normal and capitol budgets nonetheless present “important support to protect firefighters and the communities they serve,” it stated.
In a letter to native hearth union heads final month, Richard MacKinnon Jr., president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, highlighted the “majority of these cuts are reducing local ‘earmarks’ by 50%.”
“Her administration is actually very open and always available to talk with us,” MacKinnon instructed the Herald this week. “There hasn’t been any talks about restoring that money at this point based on the revenues I think that the state is seeing. It will probably be up to those communities to put in for those earmarks in the next budget cycle.”
In whole, 33 cities and cities, together with Boston, Everett, Quincy and Worcester, are all receiving much less cash than anticipated. The Barnstable County Fire and Rescue Training Academy and a statewide most cancers screening program for firefighters are additionally being impacted, the latter dropping out on $300,000, MacKinnon stated.
Healey has approved the state Department of Fire Services to use unspent funding from final yr’s funds for firefighter most cancers screening towards this yr’s screenings, and with that adjustment, officers say they anticipate to satisfy the anticipated demand for the providers via June.
In his letter final month, MacKinnon highlighted how the Easton Fire Department was slated to get $50,000 for gear purchases as a substitute of the preliminary $100,000, whereas the Taunton Fire Department, initially designated $500,000 for upgrades to a hearth station, was being minimize to $250,000.
Despite the frustration that the governor made the cuts final month, MacKinnon stated PFFM is glad to see her administration proceed a Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant program that delivered $5 million in awards to 321 departments this week.
The grants present reimbursements for purchases of a variety of kit together with hoses and nozzles, turnout gear and ballistic protecting gear, amongst others.
“Every single day, firefighters across Massachusetts put themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities,” Healey stated in a launch. “They deserve our thanks and our support.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”