Columbus officials say fire department spending report was wrong

Apologies are in order to the firefighters union. Good to see that nobody checks the facts before they go about their business. I'm glad firefighters don't accept the word of people when they tell them nobody is in a burning building; they check to make sure the statement is accurate. As far as not wanting to be in the top two, I am very glad we have more firefighters on duty than the average city. That means they should be able to get to the emergency quickly and have more manpower to do the job; that is if their 27 year old fire trucks work and get them there on time.

When the firefighter's union questioned those numbers, they were called liars and scam artists. What about the $800,000,000 figure that the city has been denying exists in the reserve account? Since that has been proven to be true, are members of the Menino administration going to be called the same thing? This Menino needs to go away. Listen to your wife, Mumbles. Drop out now, before some 24 year old FBI agent is telling you, "watch your head getting in the car Mayor.., I mean, Mr. Menino."

How can there be a "top heavy" management structure when only the Commissioner is outside the Union? Sounds like fewer union "managers" are needed.

Only the second worst in the country, well then fine, we should keep overpaying these guys.

So why isn't this article - that substantially guts the grotesque overspending premise the Globe put forth earlier today - given the exact same lead story prominence the original article was?

Yes - but if that's the case it doesn't include health care or pensions or capital expenditures or external funds for the FD or EMS - not as bad as they originally posted, but that probably adds $40-$60 million back into the cost of BFD bringing average cost back to about $350 per resident - drumroll - putting Boston back into the lead - top that SF.

Shocking to think the Globe would publish an article based on faulty information. If I remeber correctly, the original article stated that Boston paid $482 per citizen for it fire dept. and this retraction says it pays $285 per citizen. Nobody at the Globe or Columbus Ohio thought that a $200 per person error was that glaring? You should call Ed Kelly and apologize immediately!

The top heavy management is probably the civilian deputy commissioners that Menino has put there at a cost of about $400K a year along with a civilian human resources director who has a job once held by a chief who made less money.

Looks like some of our liberal leaders made a call ..."ahem aren't these numbers incorrect. Oh sorry Mr Senator they are, we'll fudge I mean fix these right away."

i for one think that a person going into a fire to save my butt or even the crappy mayor can't ever be paid enough. stop this crazy ten ton tounge from talking an vote him bye-bye. he is a lier and mad to put his personal venditta above every one elses safety. these people have families they have to provide for even if tragerty strikes. do you think paying me less would get me to do my job better.i don't think so, but these people only care about saving lives even at the loss of there own. not many of us on-lookers would.

It's worth noting that in Boston's case the numbers seem to include both fire and EMS. In some cities only fire is included, so the comparisons may not be accurate even now.

You're right, it's not golf, it's public safety. I don't where Mr. Dunlap lives, but I , as a resident of Boston, want to be in the top 2. So go back to Wellesly or Weston please.

Want to find wasteful fees.. mandated insurance premiums for auto, home, and now health.. Why? So lawyers can get 1/3 + exorbitant expenses on every claim settlement. How about your retirement plan at the mutual fund company that gets 2% of your assets every year to pay the "analyst" 400k/yr to shuffle the same limited amount of stocks that even exist around and still lose far more than the index because market timing does not work.. And this replaces our rapidly disappearing social security.

This just shows what bozos are involved with administering to the (BLOATED, SELF-SERVING) fire departments! These retractors are probably union members...let's ask for their cards.

So let me see if I got this straight- the Globe publishes a story about a report done in Columbus Ohio that says the BFD is a bloated, mismanaged organization. It turns out some of the numbers in the Columbus study are incorrect. BFD is not the most expensive department in the whole country-- the most expensive department (which provides both Fire AND EMS) cost $30 dollars more per capita. BFD still holds the distinction of having the most firefighters per capita, and most firefighter per square mile, and somehow the firefighter union things they should get an aplogy? Have you really sunk to that-- to be told you're still a bloated organization, but not as bloated as we thought this morning and that's good news?

Another great example of journalism by the Globe.

What's a couple of million dollars between friends right? 8th floor had it right. The two civilian deputy hacks are just that, hacks. Will you see this story on Page one of the Metro tomorrow? No, the Globe publishes their corrections on the bottom of the page in the legal announcements.

Just more evidence of the BFD's spoiled brat mentality. I am sure they will use this as cannon fodder to get raises. I am sure in there eyes, second place is just the first loser. After seeing these big babies crying all the time when they talk pay cuts, or contract disputes, now they can prove they are not the highest paid department. When will the protests start?

First of all, These numbers reflect the cost of Fire and EMS. Not just the Fire Department. Once again, Fire and EMS. So lets take a look at both.

Second, these numbers reflect per resident cost. On any given week day during the year how many non-resident employees come into Boston? How many students are at our many (non-tax paying) colleges and universities?

Lets look at the big picture and stop spinning stories to make the Fire department look bad.