Excerpts from an editorial on chicagotribune.com:
The City of Highwood, Illinois is considering a new approach to its fire department by potentially bringing in personnel from a private firefighting company. While the idea may raise concerns, city officials are working hard to reassure residents that public safety will remain a top priority.
City Manager Scott Coren explained that budget constraints and a limited tax base—covering less than a square mile—are key reasons behind seeking proposals from private firms. “We need to keep our current service costs low so we can invest in improving infrastructure like roads and sidewalks,†he said. Mayor Charles Pecaro added, “With the financial instability in Illinois, we have to run a sustainable city, especially with the rising costs of pensions and workers’ compensation.â€
This move isn’t entirely new for Highwood. The city already outsources several services, including snow removal, grass maintenance, building inspections, payroll, fueling, police dispatching, and more. Now, they’re looking at expanding this model to fire services.
“Outsourcing has worked well for us in the past,†Coren said. “We believe we can provide safe and efficient fire protection through contractors, as long as we maintain strict hiring standards and ensure all employees are properly certified.â€
By saving money through outsourcing, the city hopes to focus on critical infrastructure improvements, such as repairing roads and sidewalks. “We’ve had to raise taxes before to cover these costs,†Coren said. “If we don’t make changes like this, we’ll be forced to increase taxes again. We have to use our limited resources wisely.â€
Thanks, Chris
(Word count: 506)Inclined Screen Solid-liquid Separation
Inclined Screen Solid-Liquid Separation,Inclined Screen Separator,Dry And Wet Separation,Liquid Solid Separator
Changzhou Senjie Environmental Protection Equipment Co., Ltd. , https://www.senjie-hb.com