Excerpts from the Journal-Sentinel online: A recent report by the Public Policy Forum highlights how the consolidation of seven fire and rescue departments on the North Shore of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, 20 years ago has led to significant cost savings while improving service quality. According to the study titled “Come Together: An Analysis of Fire Department Consolidation in Milwaukee County’s North Shore,†the combined approach saved communities millions of dollars annually. In 2014, if the seven municipalities had not merged their departments, they would have spent an extra $2.8 million each year to maintain the same level of service. This report shows that the North Shore Fire Department has proven to be a successful model for other local governments in the region. Public Policy Forum President Rob Henken emphasized that consolidating services—whether it's fire, police, health, or education—can lead to major financial benefits for taxpayers. With over 146 municipalities and 92 school districts in the surrounding area, there is huge potential for similar efforts across southeastern Wisconsin. The process of merging the departments took 10 years of discussion before it was finally implemented in 1995. Fire Chief Robert Whitaker, who has been with the department since its early days and was promoted to chief in 2010, noted that the success of the merger relied heavily on the willingness of officials to take a risk and let go of some local control. “It wasn’t easy,†he said. “There was a loss of identity—no longer are the towns’ names on the fire trucks or the firefighters’ uniforms. But when you arrive at an emergency scene, people don’t care where you’re from.†Whitaker added, “Looking back, it’s clear that this move has made a big difference. We offer better service at a lower cost now than we ever did before.†This month, the North Shore Fire Department received accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, a recognition held by only 218 fire and rescue organizations across the U.S. The accreditation reflects the department’s commitment to high standards in training and operations. According to the report, the department now operates with fewer resources than it did 20 years ago. There are 10 fewer firefighters, but the current team is fully professional, better trained, and responds faster than in the past, when some firefighters were part-time and others had dual roles as police officers. The number of fire stations has dropped from seven to five, and the fleet has shrunk from 31 to 15 vehicles. In 2014, each North Shore municipality saved between $14,279 (River Hills) and over $1 million (Shorewood) annually. Other communities saw savings ranging from $258,483 (Bayside) to $410,110 (Whitefish Bay). Additionally, the report found that the seven communities would have spent $3.4 million more on replacing all the old vehicles compared to what the consolidated department spent over two decades. Some neighboring areas have also taken steps toward consolidation. For example, the Village of Richfield contracts with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement, and West Milwaukee relies on Milwaukee for fire and EMS services. In 2012, the Public Policy Forum urged five southern Milwaukee County communities—Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, and Oak Creek—to merge their fire departments. Despite the potential savings of $1 million per year and nearly $4 million over five years, the plan has yet to materialize. Foam Tiare,Clay Tiare,Plastic Tiare,Silk Tiare, Artificial Tahiti Tiare Xuzhou Kylin Craft & Gifts Co., Ltd. , https://www.kylincraftandgifts.com