Big Bear Lake, CA/June 2, 2020- The Big Bear Fire Authority Board approved a balanced budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year at their June 2, 2020 Board meeting. The approved budget entails significant changes compared to last year’s budget. Since the Community Facilities District (CFD) tax measure was unsuccessful on the March 2020 ballot, some very difficult but necessary budget decisions have been made. Fire Chief Jeff Willis stated, “Honestly, I am disappointed that this critical tax measure that would have provided essential staffing and lifesaving equipment to meet the current day-to-day and future Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Service needs did not have the support of our community. With that being said, I also have great respect as to the outcome of this vote and will strive to continue to provide the highest level and most cost effective Fire Protection and Life-Safety Services that our community counts on every day.”
Significant changes in the 2020-2021 budget include:
· Implementation of a transition plan to replace twelve Firefighter positions with civilian non-safety Ambulance Operator positions. Ambulance Operators will assist on medical calls only. They will not have the training or ability to assist with firefighting, rescue, or any type of hazardous operations. This transition will occur over a two to three-year period through natural attrition from retirements or other created vacancies and will reduce the number of daily on-duty firefighters from thirteen to nine, a 30% reduction. Staffed ambulances will no longer be staffed with Firefighter/Paramedics but will now be staffed by Ambulance Operators.
· Elimination of the seasonal staffing of firefighting apparatus and personnel at the Baldwin Lake Station during the winter months when CAL FIRE is not providing staffing. Instead, one of the three regularly staffed ambulances will be relocated to the Baldwin Lake station during this period.
· Elimination of the seasonal up-staffing of firefighting apparatus and personnel at the Sugarloaf Station during the winter months and other peak periods.
· Elimination of 2.5 civilian administrative staff positions at Headquarters which will have a negative impact on numerous community programs and services.
It was determined during the budget planning for the 2020-2021 fiscal year that the permanent closing of the Sugarloaf Fire Station would not go far enough to meet budget shortfalls. The governing board’s stated desire to operate with a balanced budget without additional revenue dictated more severe cuts and created a balancing act with tough choices to be made between operational capability and fiscal conservancy.
Overall, it is expected that the financial position of the organization will improve year over year as it moves toward the goal of reducing the Department’s staffing to nine Firefighter/Paramedics and six Ambulance Operators on duty daily.
As the Department transitions to this new operating model, the Department will continue to look for opportunities that allow staffing improvements or changes should they present themselves.
For additional information or questions, please contact the Big Bear Fire Department at (909) 866-7566 or visit our website at www.bigbearfire.com