Kokomo and Muncie firefighter layoffs are similar struggles

scott.smith@kokomotribune.com

In many ways, the firefighter layoffs in Muncie have a lot of similarities with those in Kokomo.

But in other ways, Middletown U.S.A. has a lot of disadvantages to the City of Firsts, regardless of whether Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight's firefighter layoffs stand.

Consider, for instance, the fact that because of Ball State University, almost half of Muncie is property tax exempt.

That means Muncie has been operating with a city general fund of about $24 million.

Kokomo's general fund is more than $37 million.

That's the money both cities use to pay salaries and benefits to city workers, and for both cities, those numbers will drop significantly over the next two years.

In Muncie, Mayor Sharon McShurley laid off 32 firefighters last week, and laid off five rookie police this week. Without those layoffs, she is looking at a $3.8 million budget deficit this year, and another $3 million hit expected next year.

In Kokomo, Mayor Greg Goodnight has laid off more than 50 full-time city employees, including 16 firefighters. He must cut $2.5 million from his general fund by next year.

In both cities, local firefighters' unions have tried to enlist help from the community to save firefighter jobs.

While those efforts are just beginning in Kokomo (a group met last Monday to decide whom to include), a full-blown rescue plan was presented to McShurley just two days before she made her final decision on firefighter layoffs.

"I don't know how you can come up with a plan like that with no participation from the city controller, no involvement from the fire chief, and think it deserves any consideration," Muncie Deputy Mayor Dick Shirey said Tuesday.

Shirey said the plan called on the Center Township (Delaware County) Volunteer Fire Department to merge with the Muncie Fire Department, and to reduce the number of full-time firefighters through buyouts instead of layoffs.

Firefighters left on the force were to pay for the buyouts through pay reductions until the estimated $750,000 needed was paid back.

But Shirey said the Center Township trustee wanted minimum staffing levels of 25 firefighters per shift, and that was a deal-breaker for the city administration.

Muncie mayor criticized

Thomas Hanify, president of the Professional Firefighters Union of Indiana, said McShurley's decision to ignore the committee's plan was unconscionable.

"The difference between Kokomo and Muncie is that [Goodnight] wants to do something, and in Muncie, it's a political vendetta," Hanify said.

"And I do think Goodnight feels like he's in a box, with Chrysler and the tax payment issues. I think he might have had a better way to do it [than to lay off 16 firefighters], but he is legitimately in a box."

McShurley, he said, was elected by the slimmest of margins. He suggested political paybacks are behind her decisions.

"Let me tell you, she's no public servant," he said.

More cities to follow

Yet last week, Matt Greller, executive director of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, said Kokomo and Muncie represent "the tip of the iceberg" when it comes to locales hit by state-mandated property tax caps.

Next year, Greller predicted, numerous other cities will be forced to make difficult decisions.

Monday, Logansport officially became one of those cities, when city council members there confirmed possible firefighter layoffs were discussed at a closed-door meeting.

Compared to Kokomo's firefighter layoffs, Muncie's cuts look draconian.

With a coverage area and a population roughly similar to Kokomo's (Muncie is slightly larger in both categories), Muncie now has 78 firefighters; Kokomo has 100. Pay and benefits for the Kokomo department are better.

Under the compromise plan McShurley rejected, Muncie would have had a minimum staffing of 25 firefighters per shift. Kokomo still has more than 30 firefighters scheduled per shift.

In Kokomo, however, all parties are still talking. In Muncie, the gloves appear to be off.

Hanify said Tuesday the firefighters in Muncie will continue to speak out against the cuts.

Shirey, however, said the city has little choice. For years, he said, the Muncie city council has ignored its small revenue stream, and has skipped capital expenses - including maintenance and replacement of fire equipment - in favor of giving raises and benefits to city employees.

He said McShurley was the mayor who finally had to reverse the trend.

It's also worth noting that Muncie is now considering three local tax increases.

The Muncie council is considering starting a local option income tax and a "wheel tax," and is also considering increasing the county option income tax.

Local officials in Kokomo have already taken all of those steps.