Comments on: Vacaville workers praised for delivering services despite tough 2012

By: Patriot

Patriot — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:41:08 +0000

Let me respond to your comments. If you would please look at the 2012-13 budget for the city of Vacaville you would find out that the Paramedic program does make money, but the net effect of the program is that it costs the city over $3.0 million in added expense to run the service..In the past 5 years since other hospitals have opened the city ambulance service has lost more money due to not have to go to Vallejo. Your comment about quality of service is a good one. I believe we have a superior service for ambulance in our city..How good would it be with a private ambulance service we should look at all other cities in the county..I believe they get the same training and are held to the same standards as our paramedics.. However they are not paid over $100,000 per year and work 9 days per month. I would suggest you ask the city council and city manager if you don’t believe me. In todays work do we really need the cadillac of service when we run a minimal staffing every 24 hours of 5 police officers and 1 sergeant in police and then run 14 fire/paramedics and 4 supervisors in the fire department. They run these minimals 24/7. I heard the fire department had a total of 25 structure fires last year for all of these resources. Sounds awful fat to me.If that still makes sense to you, then you must work for the fire department.

By: VV citizen

VV citizen — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:19:39 +0000

Not sure where you get your facts, but the PM\ambulance service MAKES money through the PM tax and transport fees. Plus its done with a higher level of service and better response times then a private company.

If it was a money-loser, it would get tossed.

By: Patriot

Patriot — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:18:13 +0000

Agreed, there biggest “Pet project” is the fire paramedic service that costs the city $3.0 million per year, every year..In todays age we need to review all programs and make the right decisions that effect all citizens. All other cities in county use private medic and get a reimbursement of $500-600,000 per year..As long as they keep these types of “Pet Projects” we will continue to “kick the can” down the road until we are really in trouble..

By: FF64

FF64 — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:29:17 +0000

Public employees have become scapegoats for all things bad about the government, whether Fed, State, or Local. Trust me, they will not stop taking “givebacks” when they can use that money for their pet projects.

By: Patriot

Patriot — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:36:03 +0000

ok, sounds like the city has turned the corner. If that is true why is the council still taking away money from the city workers through concessions. Other cities have already stopped the concessions.This council does not support city workers.