Dryden Fire Service Continues To ‘Pinch Pennies’

The Dryden Fire Service has handed over its proposed 2015 budget to City Council.
Fire Chief Ken Kurz says total operating expenditures total $620,000.
Kurz says the draft 2015 budget is about $32,000 lower than the 2014 budget.
Salaries and benefits are up slightly but the Fire Service managed to find savings in other areas.
Kurz says they are doing their best to find ways to save money.
However, Kurz says the City isn’t meeting current standards.
He says it’s starting to slide in the way that the Fire Service can’t get enough firefighters at a certain time and that some equipment needs to be upgraded.
The Fire Service is asking for $107,000 in capital upgrades this year for new equipment and protective clothing.
Kurz adds the Fire Service has budgeted $15,000 this year for travel and training, that’s up from $10,000 last year.