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Who: Westland Mayor Bill Wild, Wayne Mayor Al Haidous, Inkster Mayor Hilliard L. Hampton, and Westland- Wayne Fire Chief Michael Reddy                     What: Inkster joins shared Fire department's shared services between Westland and Wayne.   Where: Inkster Fire Station                      27717 Michigan Ave, Inkster, MI 48141   When: Friday January 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.

Westland, MI (January 8, 2014)- While Detroit is in bankruptcy , Wayne County has an accumulated deficit of more than $200 million and other cities struggle financially, Westland Mayor Bill Wild continues to find ways to manage his budget. 

 

In a continued effort to manage city finances with a reduced revenue stream, the City of Inkster joins the already shared fire department services between Westland and Wayne.

 

"This extension of our shared services enables all cities to operate more efficiently," said Westland Mayor Bill Wild. "The working partnership between Westland-Wayne has proven successful and we have strategically positioned the department in such a way we are able to include Inkster."

 

This shared service is on the heels of last year's agreement between Wayne and Westland that began on July 1st, 2012 and will extend for five years.

 

"It is it truly beneficial when cities are able to collaborate," said Inkster Mayor Hilliard L Hampton. "We are all forced to do more with less and this effort allows us to maintain the quality of services our residents expect and deserve."  

 

"I credit the Mayors for their leadership as well council members and unions for their support," said Fire Chief Michael Reddy.

 

The shared services are saving Westland $180,000 annually, Wayne $130,000 and Inkster $55,000

 

"We created a blue print for shared services that other cities have adopted including Dearborn and Melvindale," said Mayor Wild. "Our fiscal responsibility means we evaluate our departments and finances often. We cannot afford to ignore or kick our financial problems down the road. We have to make the appropriate adjustments regularly."

 

Over the past seven years, Westland has made several adjustments to not only avoid a projected deficit but to create a surplus.

 

■ The City has 125 less employees today.

■ Worked with unions to downsize City operations to meet current revenue with very little cuts to City Services.

■ Asked employees to begin contributing towards their health care.

■Received pension reform

■ Began to eliminate costly retirement healthcare 

■ Reduced his appointee staff from 18 to 12 employees, which saved the city close to a million dollars a year.

■ The city joined with Wayne in a Fire Department merger that resulted in a shared Fire Chief that saved the two communities approximately $250,000 in the first year alone.

■ The shared Fire Chief service with Wayne was so successful that Inkster has joined the merger.

■ Merged Wayne and Westland Parks and Recreation Departments.

■ Closed the antiquated Recreation Center that was losing close to a million dollars a year.    

■  Westland began delivering Emergency 911 Dispatch services for Wayne, Inskster and Garden City, which saved all four communities significant dollars and allows them to share the cost of technical upgrades.

■  Westland also has been sharing employees in the Water Department and Mapping Department with Canton Township.

■ Not only balance the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 budgets, but created a 5.5 million Rainy Day Fund.