In 2004, the public safety levy was proposed to the public and passed. The public safety  levy was brought up again in 2006 due to possible misunderstandings in ballot language. The levy was again passed. The levy had promised the opening of one new fire station for Billings and the hiring of 15 firefighters. Click here to view the power point presentation used by the city to promote the public safety levy.

The city will be adding a total of 5 firefighters but does not plan on fulfilling the promised 15.  The city will be opening the promised new fire station, but will be shutting down the ladder truck.  Fire Chief Jochems and City Administrator Volek state in a Billings Gazette article on 8-27-07 that "the department will be substantially stronger than it was before the mill levy passed." We as firefighters do not believe this to be true. Although the new station will be helpful in covering the far west end of Billings, the ladder truck responds on all structure fires across Billings. The ladder truck is a very specialized apparatus. It carries a 104 foot ladder and many other tools that can only be found on the ladder truck. Currently, the ladder truck crew is responsible for manning the water tender, brush rig, and safety net ambulance. Therefore by shutting down the ladder truck the public is losing the use of three other very important pieces of apparatus.

The reasons the city is citing for cutting firefighters is based on a lawsuit that was filed in 2000 over a dispute going back to 1995. In 1995, a contract was signed stating that Billings firefighters would be considered hourly employees. Firefighters work 43 hours a week. The city wanted only to pay 40 hours a week.  In numerous contract negotiations, the firefighters union urged the city to correct their mistake. The city's position was to have this resolved in court.  In 2001, district court Judge Baugh ruled in favor of the firefighters. The city appealed the ruling to the state supreme court. In August 2007 the supreme court ruled 7-0 in favor of the firefighters. As a result of the city's inability to correct their mistake, the end result of going to court cost the city more money.  You can read more on the lawsuit from the Billings Gazette by clicking here The city had to see that there was a good chance of not having the court rule in their favor long before the levy came to a vote.  Therefore the question arises: Why would the city not make preparations to pay for the lawsuit and did the city mislead the public in the promised services in the public safety levy?

We as firefighters believe the city is not living up to their obligations with the public safety levy. By doing this, they are putting the citizens of Billings and their firefighters at risk. We need your help!  You can help by contacting your city council members and demand that they honor what you were promised in the public safety levy.  You can find  your council member information by clicking here

After all, if you don’t save our firefighters, who will save you?