Where Does the New Money Go?

This new government agency will start from scratch -- hiring HR, IT, Accounting and Finance staff, equipment, software and space to perform the operations that are currently being done by the cities. 

For the $2 million a year of needlessly duplicative of costs for this… 

You could get two brand new fire engines…every year! 

Or you can hire these folks, who actually can fight fires and save lives!

Next big inefficiency

The Yes on Prop. 1 folks say that with an RFA we get "economies of scale", you know, a big 12 pack of paper towels is cheaper than buying 12 separate rolls.  

But what's true for paper towels doesn't apply to the RFA Plan.  In fact, the RFA is a "dis-economies of scale".

Because putting together the two fire departments into the RFA results in a bigger fire department, the proposed RFA is going to pay millions of dollars more to employ the very same people who are working today.

The RFA Committee argues the very same people serving the very same area should be paid more because they can now compare themselves to other larger fire departments they have selected as "comparable".  

"Comparability", based on the RFAs own seven-year financial plan, cost an additional $7.8 million to pay for the same workers to do the same things.  

Also the RFA Plan calls for the Tumwater employees salaries to be adjusted UPWARDS to match the City of Olympia's higher pay levels.  They call it an "Equity Adjustment",  same people, just in a new organization.  That will cost $3.6 million over the 7 year budget! 

Add it all up...

$3.6 million for Tumwater firefighter salary "equity" + 

$7.8 million for "comparable size" departments + 

$14.9 million for duplicative administrative staff = 

$26.3 million over the 7 year RFA financial plan.  

More money for same number of firefighters, same number of fire trucks, same number of fire stations.

Below, you can see this point made by the RFA itself...

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE