1/6/2005
Media Contact:
Steve Campbell, [317] 327-3622 |
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Indianapolis Works picks up key endorsement from local firefighters union
INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Works, Mayor Bart Peterson's proposal to reduce the size of government and save local tax payers $35 million a year, has picked up a key endorsement from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Professional Firefighters Local 416, the union that represents firefighters from the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD), all eight township fire departments and the airport fire department.
Union members voted last night to officially support Indianapolis Works, which would merge the eight township fire departments and the airport fire department into IFD and establish divisions based on the current townships.
This means that Indianapolis Works now has been officially endorsed by the organizations representing firefighters at three levels:
• National level (International Association of Firefighters);
• State level (Professional Firefighters of Indiana); and
• Local level (Local 416).
"I'm very pleased and proud the majority of firefighters support Indianapolis Works," Mayor Peterson said. "Consolidating the fire departments will not only create efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars, it will improve fire service countywide and improve training, equipment and job conditions for our public safety heroes."
Merging the fire departments will result in $20.8 million in annual savings, the largest share of savings under the Indianapolis Works government reform package.
Mayor Peterson proposed the plan in August and has spent months discussing the plan with neighborhood and business groups, and the Indianapolis Works Advisory Panel has conducted four public meetings. In addition, the city has released reports detailing the cost savings from all aspects of the plan.
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