ANNAPOLIS, Md. --
Legislators in Annapolis are considering cutting the fire department staff at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The proposal is buried deep in the budget bill that is expected to come to the House floor Monday evening and be debated later this week. The cost-cutting move could save taxpayers a few million dollars, but critics said they fear the price to pay for jeopardizing public safety is far greater.
Nearly 100 people man a 24/7 vigil at the airport's fire department. Fire and rescue operates out of a single station house on the airport grounds, but its responsibilities have changed dramatically.
About 40 percent of the time, they're called to assist another jurisdiction, most often in Anne Arundel County, officials said.
In 2009, statistics showed the airport firefighters helped Anne Arundel 1,281 times. The county assisted the airport's department 61 times.
The disparity caught the attention of those looking to save taxpayer money.
The Department of Legislative Services provided lawmakers with three options: continue to subsidize fire and EMS service in Anne Arundel by allowing the county to collect a surcharge on parking at the airport, make Anne Arundel share the costs or cut 24 positions so that staffing for the airport fire department reflects the airport needs only.
The last option is what is generating the most concern.
"Not only is it potentially harmful to state employees who are short-staffed and overworked, but the traveling public -- do they want to be in a situation where there's a plane crash and not enough people to respond? For that reason, we think it's foolhardy," said Sue Esty, the legislative director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the state's largest union.
Airport management said it opposes the recommendations and is calling for a yearlong study to determine the ramifications. They cited several concerns, including whether Anne Arundel has the resources to respond to a major event at the airport while maintaining its public safety commitment locally.
Airport management also questioned the legal impact of mutual aid agreements the airport has with other counties.
"This particular proposal is very complicated, and the airport feels it's in the best interest of everyone to closely examine the issue," said BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean.
A recent DLS study found that Anne Arundel staffing levels have not kept pace with demand. The study recommended not relying on mutual aid as a substitute. The DLS analysis found that demand since 1992 for fire and EMS services in Anne Arundel has more than doubled, and 70 percent of the calls are for medical emergencies.
The DLS determined that 213 additional staff members would be needed to meet demand. To do that, the county would also have to spend $16.6 million on equipment and fire station needs.
"Although they do come out into the county a little more, it is mutually beneficial for each department. They get to come out and keep their skills sharp," said Anne Arundel County Fire Department Division Chief Michael Cox.
Under the proposal, if Anne Arundel doesn't agree to some form of cost sharing, legislators will cut the 24 positions, and the county risks losing $1 million in transportation aid.
» See Breaking News? Upload Pictures, Video To u local | WBAL-TV MobileCity | Anne Arundel | Baltimore County | Carroll | Harford | Howard | More© 2011 by WBALTV.com. All rights reserved. This materia
