UPDATE: I found out why the tornado siren is in the budget while the unfilled vacancies are occurring. The tornado siren is being funded via the Capital Improvement Budget, which is in a different realm than where the officers and firefighters are funded from. There were funds within the Capital Improvement Budget to allow the support for the tornado siren.
Funds can be transferred from one section of the budget to the
other, but it is not recommended for it causes havoc and confusion in
the future.
So for those wondering why both controversial items are in the 2010 budget, there's your answer.
Read the original post after the jump.
Let's put it this way. If I had a choice on funding either a firefighter and police officer or funding a tornado siren, I'd probably fund the two positions...but that's just my opinion. Other residents could feel that a tornado siren is more important, but I never really posed the question before. My gut tells me that more residents will turn out and ask for the two positions rather than the siren.
Why would I take the firefighter and police officer over the siren? Because residents are asking for them and are more important to the safety and security of the community.
The threat exists every year that a tornado will strike Franklin. I get that. But I'll look at it this way: if the tornado does hit, who will be first on the scene? Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. The siren can only do so much; it's up to the first responders to continue saving lives after the incident. Both can be NEEDs, but from where I sit the need for filling in vacant police officer and firefighter/EMT positions are more important on the list.
