The money isn’t coming from an increase in taxes or fees, though. Funding for the truck and three firefighters is coming directly from the city’s bravest giving up half their paid holidays. Chief Bradley Anderson said in The State, “It definitely will improve services not only in Engine 9’s primary response area, but it improves coverage throughout the city and county because of the fact that all of these stations work together in the system.”

Of course, proper funding of first responders is one of the top issues in the race for mayor.

Steve Benjamin

“It’s bittersweet. I wish council would spend a little more time finding other ways to do it and not do it on the back of firefighters.”

Kirkman Finlay III

“We’re in a worldwide recession and we’re able to maintain a high standard of public safety without anybody losing their jobs. It would be Cinderella to expect more.”

Recently, a proposal came down to close two fire engines. For those of you in Shandon, that doesn’t look good, since the Devine Street station has one of those slated to be shut down. About $9 million is supposed to be eliminated from public safety funding, as it stands right now.

“Every society’s most basic organizing principle is safety and it has always been understood that the city’s most sacred duty is to protect its citizens. Unfortunately, by neglecting our police and fire services, Council has abandoned that duty. As a result, we are all in harm’s way,” Benjamin said in a statement.

While he doesn’t plan on raising taxes to restore funding, the idea is to do budget-streamlining things like, “eliminating waste, limiting non-essential spending, instituting a hiring freeze, and … the consolidation of several services with Richland County.”