Officials not banking on future SAFER grants for fire department

MLive.com

FLINT, Mich. — With the city anxiously awaiting word on its request for a $7.9 million grant to avoid laying off 19 firefighters and closing two fire stations, Flint's application for that money offers few insights on how the city plans to maintain its fire staffing in the years ahead.

The city has already taken steps toward addressing its fire situation, passing a public safety millage that raises at least $3 million a year through 2018 and winning a $20.1 million federal grant that will allow the city to tear down 1,500 vacant houses that are attractive targets for arsonists in a city that has ranked as arson capital of the nation.

But the 5-year public safety millage approved by voters will not be enough to offset the loss of a federal grant, according to the application for the for Adequate Fire and Emergency Staffing grant, leaving the city with the hope that the state Legislature allows voters to decide on an income tax hike of 1.5 percent for residents and 0.75 percent for non-residents.

Full story: Flint not banking on future SAFER grants for fire department