Parma Fire Dept looks to save city nearly $1 million in 2016

PARMA, Ohio - In a report called “Six-month Assessment Report,” the Parma Fire Department has announced detailed goals that would mean significant cost savings to the city in 2016. Parma Fire Chief Mike Lasky presented the report to the city administration and Parma City Council earlier this month.

Lasky’s power point presentation was centered around a SAFER grant that provides $794,286 for two years. The grant provides for salary and benefits for eight new firefighters, who will be sworn in on January 7. That brings the department’s number of firefighters/paramedics to 107.

The addition of the eight new firefighters means that the department can save $297,818 in overtime costs alone, in addition to the savings realized as a result of the grant paying salaries. Resulting shift realignments allows for another $45,286 and vacation savings for new hires over more experienced personnel adds another $100,800 to the savings.

All told, Chief Lasky estimates that the city can save nearly $1 million in 2016 alone.

Going forward, the department looks to add to savings by using technology differently as well. Officers meetings and classes can be done via Skype when possible, which would save approximately $15,000 in fuel costs, and IPads are being deployed to cut down on paper costs for inspections and violations.

-30-