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San Bernardino could be first city to privatize firefighting and EMT services
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A San Bernardino City firefighter pulls a section of hose as firefighters try to prevent an out of control fire from jumping highway. The city council met recently to vote on a plan that would contract outside sources for its firefighting and emergency medical services, including a private company.
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As the city of San Bernardino faces bankruptcy, a officials may move forward with a new financial plan that aims to save money by privatizing its firefighting and emergency medical services.
The San Bernardino City Council met earlier this week to vote on a plan that would outsource its firefighting and emergency medical services. Two of the proposed sources would be San Bernardino County Fire Department and the Colton Fire Department, which is already hired out to other cities.
However, a third proposal is for the private, for-profit firm Centerra. The company was formally known as G4S and has worked in private security and prisons.
"They mostly do federal government buildings. They're responsible for NASA," Ryan Hagen of the San Bernadino Sun told KPCC. "JPL in Pasadena is something they are responsible for ... but no cities, at this point, so it would definitely be a new experience in some ways for them."
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If the city were to hire the private company, they would not have to pay into CalPERS, the state's pension system for public sector employees.
"This company would have 401Ks like most private companies do, and so the city wouldn't be on the hook for those pension payments and hopefully would save 7 to 10 million dollars, according to the city's projections."
The proposal came from the city manager's office and is vocally supported by Councilman Jim Mulvihill.
The city's firefighters union is against the proposal, and opposition has spread to the the California Professional Firefighters, says Hagen.
The city council will vote on the proposals June 15.
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