The debate over the size and make up of the stimulus bill has come to a close. Now figuring out what this stimulus package means for fire departments is front and center. Janesville, Wis., Chief Larry Grorud, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, has been examining that issue.

How much relief will the stimulus package provide the fire service?

That's an interesting question because the biggest relief the fire service will see is the results of the money going out into the communities and being spent getting people back to work and rejuvenating the economy. A lot of our fire departments are funded by either sales tax or property tax revenue. For example, here in Janesville, we've had one new building permit taken out the entire year, so far. The building industry hasn't seen any growth and of course that impacts our tax revenue. The things that are hindering growth right now are also causing fire departments to look at their operation, and in many places having to trim positions, which are really service cuts. It is not that they are recommended; it is just necessary because of the economy. That is what we are trying to stave off and are hoping the stimulus bill can do for us.

How long will it take for the money to get into the tax rolls?

A lot of that is psychological. There is money that can be used, but people are kind of hunkering down with their spending because they don't know where [the economy] is going. So if we start seeing things grow, that will open up. If we can get the housing community and construction trades working again, that's going to help. It is an attitude as well as a real issue that we are dealing with. Many fire departments haven't had to force any layoffs or brownouts. But if this continues for two or three years, many departments are going to have to face that. If we can see the improvements coming, there are usually ways to try to get through that. That's what most departments are looking for now and that's why we're hoping the stimulus package can do its job for the American people.

How long before the money flows?

There are two mechanisms for the money to get out that might influence the fire service. One is the money designated to the federal grants programs. We're anticipating the SAFER grants to be published anytime. We're hoping that by mid-year to August we are seeing that money flowing. The $210 million that's earmarked for station construction is also going through the Department of Homeland Security. They are hoping to have that grant process ready to roll by mid-year, which means those funds would probably be available this fall or near the end of the year.

Can SAFER money go to rehire those who have been laid off?

That one we're still not clear on yet. That is something that the DHS people, when they establish the rules, are going to have to look at. The basic rule is that you can't use this money to supplant people. But if they are already laid off, if that drastic action had to be taken, is that supplanting people? The intent of the original SAFER Act was that they didn't want a department laying off nine firefighters and applying for a grant to hire nine firefighters. That's supplanting a budget with the federal funds. But if I've already laid off firefighters because of economic conditions and the SAFER grant can allow me to hire them back, there is the possibility that that is done. Other rules in SAFER did change; they waived the local match, but it still has a $110,000 cap. If I were to apply for a SAFER grant to hire those nine firefighters, I would get $110,000 for each one of them and a five-year commitment to keep them employed. Based on my salary structure, that $110,000 would be spent in the first two years for their salaries and benefits. That means that the third year we've got to be prepared to pick up the salaries. What makes it difficult right now is that our crystal balls aren't too clear. We are hoping to see things start rebounding. If we start seeing a positive trend, fire departments are going to be more active in pursuing SAFER grants. The fire chief is going to have to make an evaluation of what his needs are, but then make sure that the policy-makers and the community really understand what it means down the road.

How are volunteer and combination departments going to fare with this stimulus money?

It is going to be just as advantageous for them. The federal program, the $210 million for fire stations is across the board. [Those applications] are going to go through a peer-review process just like the FIRE Act. The distribution we've seen from the FIRE Act has been across the board. It hasn't favored one type of service over another. We anticipate that grant is going to be equally available to all. The part that we don't have a clear picture on is the $8.2 billion that is going to states but is earmarked for public safety and education. We're still waiting to get a clear line on how the individual states are going to administer that and what grants are possible through that venue. I don't know if that is going to lean one way or another regarding the type of department. That becomes an issue of what stimulates the economy that relates to police service, fire service or education.

What will the stimulus package mean for wildland and interface firefighting?

As far as the wildland firefighting service or departments that fight wildland fires, there is no money that goes directly to them. It is more of a proactive approach to curbing our wildland fire problem. The funds are earmarked to go to the U.S. Forest Service or other organizations to clean up vegetation, to build defensible space in wildland-urban interface.

How long will that process take and will departments have the resources to handle the next fire season?

The Forestry Service is going to have to take a focused approach on where they go and focus on those significant-event areas that we've seen in the past couple of years. It seems like that problem has gotten worse. It is a noble effort. The outcome we are looking for is to stimulate the economy by creating jobs to get things done. This is a job that really needs to be done not only to protect our firefighters but to protect the public.

How can chiefs learn what money is available and how to get it?

They need to watch DHS and find out when they can apply and how they can apply. The other part is state funds and they need to be in touch with their state's chiefs association and local legislators to find out what is available. That is much more nebulous for us. We have a good system set up though DHS. The money that is being handed off to the states, we don't have a clear process in place so each state is going to have to be evaluated individually. Many times state chiefs associations already have contacts with people who work in state capitols. That's where you have to be to find out and influence what is coming down.

Are you worried that the fire service will misuse the money?

I don't know that that was the case with the FIRE Act. We do know that the influence of the FIRE Act has provided valuable resources to local fire departments to do the basic job they have to do. Most of that money is oriented to things that make their job safe or do their job safer. It is a peer-reviewed process and I think that is good. We have to trust the process. The peer-review process that DHS has implemented has been one of the most popular programs I've ever seen as far as getting the money out, and we believe it has done a successful job for the fire service.

Are Labor and Management on the same page with stimulus?

We have a good working relationship with the IAFF and we worked closely with them on what could go in. In one bill in Congress for the fire station construction, we had in $500 million. We would have preferred that that was the amount when they went through conference committee. But, at least we were able to get that in there. We got a lot of complaints that SAFER grants were turned down because of the inability to meet the local match. That's why we focused on that as part of the stimulus package. I would have preferred that we had some other changes to the amount you could apply for or the five-year commitment, because I don't know that two years is going to be enough to turn around the economy.

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