Meriden Fire Pleads Its Case Against Steep Cuts

MERIDEN, CT - The approved city budget includes $1.4 million in cuts to city services, including $250,000 cut from both the police and fire budgets. But the Meriden Fire Department is pleading its case that these cuts are unjust and could have consequences such as longer response times in emergencies.

"The fire department's budget prior to this year was $9.5 million. The average budget of similar sized departments in CT is $13.25," reads a Facebook post from Meriden Fire Local 1148. "We already operate with less funding than almost every single fire department of similar size in the state, yet continue to be cut. The cost of the Meriden Fire Department budget per citizen in the city averages out to $158 per year. An exceptional service for less than 50 cents a day."

The approved budget also includes another $100,000 to be cut from a city employees' retirement fund. To sign up for Meriden breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Meriden residents initially rejected a tax hike in a referendum last month. The city council revised the budget to reduce tax increases while make significant cuts to city services.

Image via Meriden Fire Local 1148