How Fire Departments can Circumvent Proposed Fire Budget Cuts for Fiscal Year 2018
Just as the record breaking 2017 fire season came to a close, fiscal year 2018 began. Although the new fiscal year began on October 1st, Congress was unable to agree on a budget. To avoid a government shutdown, Congress and the President signed and passed a continuing resolution (CR) on September 8th to allow funding for federal agencies to remain at similar levels to what was enacted for fiscal year 2017. While operations continue as normal, agencies have been instructed not to start new projects under the newly minted CR. As US lawmakers mull over the proposed 2018 budget, a planned spending reduction in firefighting efforts is drawing criticism from both sides of the isle.