Auburn is suffering the same as every other community and while in better shape than most, all other employees have been subjected to a 10% reduction or layoffs to help balance our budget. We have used $400,000.00 of our reserves leaving about $2.5 million. That is not a lot if sales tax revenues continue to decline and we have a real disaster. Over the life of the last contract firefighter's received a !0% raise in 2006 and 7% raises in 2007 and 2008.

While I understand that 10% is a significant decrease, these times demand these measures to be fiscally responsible. We have promised to restore these cuts when the economy recovers. Auburn is not the Federal Government and cannot print money. We have to stay within our budget.

Dr Bill Kirby

Auburn City Council

Maybe there are other ways to get to that 12%. I don't think there is a problem with the firefighters doing there part to help in these tough times. Meeting in good faith and nigotiating legally is another question and issue that should be addressed. I believe that the Auburn Police Association and Public Works have had problems at the table as well. Maybe the city needs a new nigotiator? I seem to remember Mr. Willick having a problem with this when he nigotiated for the management group years ago as a Police Captain. Is it time to change the way the city does business. Does the City talk to it's employees about the problems with the Economy and does it have a plan of action? Does Mr Richardson talk to the employees or just business owners? What are the priorities of the Council? Public Safety? Water? Sewer? When there is nothing left, what must the citizens have to feel safe and deal with their own financial issues and not worry if the Police or Fire Engine will show up when they need them most. Basic Services. Can the City still provide that?

Give them the raise on the condition that they respond to FIRES only, like the good old days. No more going to fender-benders and blocking traffic in all directions. If there's an injury, the AMR (ambulance) paramedics and EMTs are just as qualified and the two together are a duplication of services. The savings in gas alone under the new policy would more than offset the pay raise. Make them stop blowing the siren at 3am when there's no traffic, also.

The county has $90 million in reserves and stole $ from public safety. It's a government bandwagon thing. Yes, economic times are tough, but the county is doing better than the other 57 counties. Something stinks in the county as well as the city.

Kirby, if you can't afford to pay your firefighters and police, then CONTACT THE SERVICES WITH THE STATE AND COUNTY! If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Maybe you should rent.

We can afford to pay them and are paying them. I do not think that the police officers, firefighters or our citizens want these services contracted out and it would not save money. We just have to be realistic as everyone has to be now. Look around and see what is happening everywhere.

Dr Bill Kirby

The cost to contract for services would be more than the current budget for the City Fire Department. For example, the state (calfire) would need more money for personell costs because the FF's there make more $ and then collect an admin fee of @ 20% of the service contract and send it to Sacramento. Look at the old Placer Consolidated Fire District. There budget prior to the service contract and now. I believe we all would like to keep our money local. The city eliminated the Fire Battalion Chief position in April. A loss of 2 positions. Your fire department consists of 1 Fire Chief, 3 Fire Captains and 7 Fire Engineers. That is your paid staff. No office assistant or admn staff. There are 5 relief Firefighters from the volunteer ranks that work on the engine part time when needed. They have no benifits. The Engine company is one of the busiest in the state for a one engine station. They are the busiest engine company in Placer County.

nicklbag the firefighter's are not asking for a raise. They are asking to meet at the table like the law says. They want to come up with a compromise that will keep personnel from leaving to other departments as well as keep qualified personnel in the city so they and the rest of the city are safe.

I am curious where these qualified personnel are going to go? Google fire fighter pay cuts and layoffs, they are everywhere. To get to the point there are no fire jobs right now. The few cities that are hiring have thousands of qualified applicants. Busy? Please, the top 5 engines in the "city" ( Sacramento) our closest true city run double and triple the runs the Auburn engine does. Should the city boys make 2 and 3 times as much as the Auburn engine? There are truck companies in the city that run double the calls. Go to Sacramento citys web site. Do we need three chiefs to supervise 10 firefighters? Probably not, one should be just fine. You can poke a hole in every complaint these well paid personnel have, except the bargaining with the city.

It is time for the firefighters to give the city council some respect, they are their bosses. If the city council isn't doing a good job, we will see a change of faces at election time. If the firefighters are truly being bargained with unfairly post some facts, time lines...heck call the grand jury. But stop lambasting your bosses ( city council in case you have forgotten). If I did this at my job in private industry, the upper management would give me my walking papers. You have a union, be thankful for your job. Maybe a subscription to the wall street journal is in order.

You obviously have no ideas what a chief does if you think the city only needs one.