Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, January 19, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, January 19, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

Firefighter OT Could Cost Windsor

The City of Windsor's projected budget deficit for 2015 is about $2.5-million after the second quarter.

A large part, nearly $1.5-million, comes from fire services, as it's dished out an excessive amount of overtime pay due to the replacement of absent firefighters.

Mayor Drew Dilkens says it's frustrating to see the fire number so high because there's not much that can be done from the city's perspective to change it. "The reality, at the end of the day, is that 96.2% of all of the costs related to fire and the delivery of fire service are not within our control. They're arbitrated settlements, they're settlements and legislated issues that we're required to provide."

Windsor fire chief Bruce Montone says 12 recruits have been brought in recently and he's expecting a few more retirements in the second half of the year, which should save money. The fire department will also be closely monitoring overtime in order to mitigate costs.

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