Politics & Government

Fire Department Requesting New Hire Start Date Be Modified

Change could save 20 overtime days, according to assistant fire chief.

Assistant Fire Chief Steve Howard is asking that the Common Council change the firefighter start dates that they set in the 2012 budget in an effort to reduce overtime hours.

In a budgetary crunch while working to freeze taxes after vetoed  a budget that raised city taxes 1.44 percent, the Common Council unfunded two vacant firefighter positions and delayed the start date on two vacant positions to April 1. The council ultimately adopted

A memo from Howard to the Finance Department requests delaying one firefighter’s start date until June 1 while allowing one firefighter to start Feb. 1.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We anticipate by staffing in this manner, we will be able to avoid approximately 20 overtime days, compared with hiring both firefighters on April 1, 2012,” the memo states.

The Finance Committee will review the request at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall before the Common Council. The issue will also go before the Common Council at 7:30 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Also up for discussion on the Finance Committee’s agenda:

  • 2012 budget process
  • Long-term financial planning/service review


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Waukesha