It's no secret that public safety has a lack of funding. Budget cuts have placed not only our first responders in jeopardy but also we as citizens. Due to lack of financial backing, many departments have been forced to close their doors, increasing response times. With increased response times, a situation can go from bad to worse. Budget cuts have forced first responders to do more with less, ultimately increasing the dangerous nature of their job. They are constantly training and preparing themselves for whatever situation that they may come into so that they may go home to their families at the end of their shifts. And though their job is dangerous, they receive little compensation for what they do, and some departments have had to pull pensions from retired personnel. We need reform.



