He’s restoring cuts to the NYPD, but Mayor Bloomberg won’t be sparing the Fire Department when he releases his $64 billion budget today.
Sources said Bloomberg is proceeding with plans to shut 20 engine companies to save $37.4 million.
The actual firehouses house other firefighting units and would remain open.
The mayor is also looking to reduce manning at 60 of the busiest engine companies from five to four firefighters per rig to save another $7.9 million.
Bloomberg’s plan, which has to be to approved by the City Council, would leave the FDNY with 400 fewer firefighters.
On the flip side, the Fire Department hopes to raise $2 million by charging a fee after for answering false alarms transmitted by automatic devices. The fee would kick in after the third false alarm in six months.