Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s proposed 2027-28 budget would cut about $7.1 million annually from the Seattle Fire Department’s overtime funding, a reduction of roughly 17% in that budget line. Fire Chief Harold Scoggins outlined plans to manage the reduction through lower daily minimum staffing and planned unit outages.
Jake Skorheim and Spike O’Neill, co-hosts of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, discussed the proposal, with Jake opposing the reduction while Spike recalled how firefighters’ response helped protect his own home.
“We want firefighters. We want them to be able to earn a good wage,” Jake said. “And if there’s not enough firefighters, and some of them have to do overtime, I’m fine with that.”
Spike recalls firefighters stopping a furnace fire
Spike described surviving two house fires, including one at his home about six years ago…