Fiscal realities drive budget cuts

Residents in the Scutterfield area of North Memphis are understandably dismayed over news the city is shutting down Fire Station No. 6 at 924 Thomas.

The station, a long-time fixture in the neighborhood, is scheduled to close in three weeks — the victim of efforts by city officials to reduce expenses in extremely tight budget times.

Fire Department Director Alvin Benson said closing No. 6 will result in fire emergency response times in the area around the station increasing slightly. However, because there are three other fire stations within 1.3 miles of the station, response times still will be in the acceptable 5- to 6-minute range.

Still, closing the station is a heavy loss for a community that has a dearth of community anchors. Station No. 6 and its firefighters have been as much a part of the community, especially for that stretch of Thomas, as the homes and businesses that have been there for generations.

Neighborhood fire stations like No. 6 are part of the fabric of a neighborhood. They represent stability, a place to seek help for serious and minor maladies, and role models for neighborhood children.

As the city tries to shore up its shaky financial situation, it has to make cuts, including in public safety, that save money without substantially impacting services that are important to city residents. Benson said more cuts are on the way. The Fire Department also is decommissioning ladder truck No. 22 at station No. 48 in Raleigh. The firefighters affected by both moves will be transferred to other stations. The city will save about $2 million in costs because those firefighters will be able to plug scheduling gaps that were once filled with off-duty officers getting overtime pay.

The city is studying what to do with station No. 6 after it closes, but will make sure the building and its lawn are maintained.

The city is wrapping up the formation of a five-year financial plan to help solve its financial problems, which is likely to recommend financially feasible changes in the way all city services are delivered.

That could mean closing other city facilities in neighborhoods.

That is something no one wants to see. If they were asked, however, whether they would be willing to pay more taxes to keep those facilities open, what would they say?