KELSEYVILLE — Kelseyville firefighters not only protected each other”s lives last week, but they all agreed to protect each other”s jobs.
Chief Mike Stone, the battalion chief, 15 firefighters and two office staff employees agreed to take 10-percent pay cuts and change their health benefits rather than allowing the Kelseyville Fire Protection District to lay off two workers, Stone said.
“Whatever is best for one is best for us all,” Stone said.
“The key is maintaining a certain level of safety for the people we”re sworn to protect,” Stone said.
Firefighter paramedic Shane Tinker said he was nervous when the district called a budget hearing because he”s one of the newest employees. The revenue shortfall gave staff two options, lose two employees or take a cut in pay and benefits. They unanimously voted to take the pay cut.
“It”s quite life-changing,” Tinker said. “I just bought a house and got married. If I lost my job here I would probably lose my home.”
His fellow firefighters were gracious about the pay cut, Tinker said.
“The nice thing about working in a department the size of this one is everybody here works as a team and wants to see everybody keep their jobs,” Tinker said.
Tinker said he”s been working for the fire department since he got out of high school and that being a firefighter is a lifestyle for him. The tough economic times have also added to the difficulty of getting a firefighting job.
“It”s huge to me the guys are willing to take that sacrifice to keep my seat on the engine,” he said.
Tinker thinks cutting staff would affect the district”s response time and effectiveness.
“Obviously, we can do more with more guys,” he said.
The Fire Protection District Board signed and sent out letters Tuesday thanking staff for their sacrifice, Board Member Steve Brookes.
“We think without any other cuts, we will be able to continue to provide a high level of service in the emergency medical field,” Brookes said.
Fire Protection Districts are funded mainly through property taxes, which took a dive because of the foreclosures, Stone said. At Kelseyville fire, all employees are involved in developing and managing the budget, so staff knew there was a deficit.
“It wasn”t really a surprise to anybody,” he said.
Stone said the district covers “a good chunk of land,” 90 square miles, including Kelseyville, Clear Lake Riviera, Soda Bay and other areas.
“We”re already what I would consider to be understaffed,” Stone said.
Stone came from Marin County about 14 months ago and said it was “hard to swallow” the level of staffing in Kelseyville, with sometimes one person on an engine when Marin County had three or four.
Stone said he wouldn”t know about the next fiscal year”s budget revenue until it approaches.
“We”re looking for new sources of funding to make the department stronger and provide better services,” he said.
Supervisor Rob Brown, who represents the district, said he”s not surprised the firefighters voted to keep each other”s jobs based on the good character of the employees.
“It”s one more reason to be proud of these folks,” he said.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
