FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:  Heather Allebaugh 407.246.3423
                 Cassandra Lafser  407.246.2182

ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES NOTIFICATION OF SAFER GRANT AWARD

Orlando, FL – May 7, 2010—Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is pleased to announce we have received initial notification from the Department of Homeland Security that the Orlando Fire Department has been awarded $8,360,469 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. The purpose of this SAFER grant is to provide funding for rehiring of laid-off firefighters. Ultimately, SAFER grantees should achieve more efficient responses and a safer incident scene.

“We are pleased with today’s initial notification and are hopeful this will prevent us from having to eliminate 46 firefighter positions, said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Cities across the country are facing difficult budget challenges, without the Obama Administration’s commitment to assisting local governments the City of Orlando would be facing even more difficult budget decisions. I would thank our Central Florida delegation Senator Bill Nelson, Senator George S. LeMieux, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Congressman Alan Grayson and Congresswoman Suzanne M. Kosmas for their incredible support of public safety.”

The City is still in process of evaluating and reviewing the guidelines associated with the SAFER grant.

Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Background Information:

The City of Orlando had to address an approximate $40 million budget deficit to arrive at a constitutionally-mandated balanced budget for fiscal year 2009/2010. In addition to substantial cuts in operating and maintenance budgets, the City eliminated several hundred positions, of which 222 were filled. This included forty-six (46) firefighters receiving official notice from the City that their position would be eliminated effective October 2, 2009, which was the beginning of the 2009/2010 fiscal year.

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