Excerpts from the Journal-Sentinel online: A recent report by the Public Policy Forum highlights the long-term benefits of merging seven fire and rescue departments on Wisconsin’s North Shore. The consolidation, which took place 20 years ago, has led to significant cost savings for the communities while improving service quality. According to the report titled “Come Together: An analysis of fire department consolidation in Milwaukee County’s North Shore,†the seven municipalities would have spent an extra $2.8 million annually in 2014 to maintain the same level of service if they had not merged their departments. This shows that combining resources can lead to greater efficiency and better outcomes for residents. Public Policy Forum President Rob Henken pointed out that the success of the North Shore Fire Department serves as a model for other areas in southeastern Wisconsin. He encourages local governments to consider consolidating services like fire, police, health, and even school districts to reduce costs and improve performance. With 146 municipalities and 92 school districts in the region, there is plenty of room for similar initiatives, Henken said. However, he also noted that such efforts require strong leadership and a willingness to take risks. The North Shore consolidation wasn’t immediate. It took 10 years of discussions before it was finally implemented in 1995. Fire Chief Robert Whitaker, who has served with the department for two decades, emphasized that the success of the merger relied heavily on the cooperation of public officials and their openness to sharing control. “It required elected leaders to work together and give up some local autonomy,†Whitaker explained. “Another challenge was the loss of identity. A community’s name no longer appears on the fire trucks or firefighters’ uniforms. But when you arrive at an emergency, people don’t care where you’re from—they just want help.†Looking back, Whitaker believes the decision was well worth it. “We’re providing better service at a lower cost now than we ever did before,†he said. This month, the North Shore Fire Department earned accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, a rare achievement. Only 218 fire and rescue organizations across the U.S. have reached this level of recognition, according to Whitaker. The report also notes that fewer resources are now used compared to the time when seven separate departments operated independently. There are 10 fewer firefighters today, but the current full-time staff is more highly trained and able to respond faster. In the past, some firefighters were part-time, and police officers often handled firefighting duties as well. Additionally, the number of fire stations has dropped from seven to five, and the fleet has been reduced from 31 to 15 vehicles. The savings per community in 2014 ranged from $14,279 in River Hills to over $1 million in Shorewood. Other communities saw savings between $62,000 and $410,000 annually. Over 20 years, the seven communities saved $3.4 million by avoiding the need to replace all the old vehicles that existed before consolidation. Some neighboring areas, like Richfield and West Milwaukee, already contract with external agencies for law enforcement and emergency services. In 2012, the Public Policy Forum urged five southern Milwaukee County communities—Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, and Oak Creek—to consolidate their fire departments. Despite the potential savings of $1 million per year and $4 million over five years, the move hasn’t happened yet. The report suggests that these communities could benefit greatly from following the North Shore example. Samoa Lopa Jewellery,Samoan Natural Red Beans Necklace,Acacia Beans Neck Lei,Fashion Design Lei Xuzhou Kylin Craft & Gifts Co., Ltd. , https://www.kylincraftandgifts.com