By Allison G. S. Knox, American Military University
InPublicSafety.com
Since the 2008 bail out, Americans and members of the government, respectively, have been increasingly concerned about the health of the American economy. Slowly, Americans have watched companies downsize, witnessed job shortages throughout the country, and, in some places, seen their taxes increase.
Because of the economic situation, most states and local governments have looked to make cuts within their budget to make ends meet. Because public safety is a huge expenditure for most jurisdictions, it is often one of the first public policy areas threatened by budget cuts.
Unfortunately for emergency medical services (EMS), budget cuts are a reality that is all too familiar. Also contributing to most budget cuts is the overwhelming perception that emergencies don’t happen, (because they don’t happen to local government officials often), thus, funding for emergencies is perceived as not always being needed. Those in the EMS community need to be prepared for budget-cut discussions despite the overwhelming need for EMS in all jurisdictions.
Read full story: Public Safety Concerns: How to be Prepared for Budget Cuts
