Firefighter Paramedic Program Saved In California County

The Salinas firefighter paramedic program will be around for at least more six months.

Salinas City Manager Dave Mora wrote a letter to the Monterey County Health Department on Friday rescinding a decision to terminate the program.

The Salinas City Council voted unanimously in April to end the program because of a lack of funding, but firefighter unions worked for several weeks to find a solution.

A decision was made in April because a 60-day termination notice was necessary for county administrators. Although both the fire supervisors union and the firefighters union had come forward with concession packages several days ago, Mora said a final decision couldn't be made without the council adopting the city's budget.

The budget was adopted Tuesday. Both groups decided to give up $236,000 in concessions.

The firefighters union decided to decrease their minimum daily staffing from 23 to 22 firefighters. The firefighter paramedics also decided to take a 7.5 percent pay cut.

"The way people are feeling is that the way we are doing this is a short term sacrifice for a long term saving of the program," said firefighter union president Andrew McLaughlin.

McLaughlin is hoping to secure a funding source for the program soon.

The fire supervisors union has opted to cut around a 7.5 percent equivalent of the salary of the city's emergency services officer, Scott Myhre.

Both concessions are expected to keep the program afloat until Dec. 31.

Myhre said there was some relief through the department on Wednesday.

"It doesn't mean we're here for good," Myhre said. "We're all very worried it'll end in December."

A $20 parcel tax was on the March ballot to help fund the program, but Salinas voters rejected it.