South Bay
GOING COUNTY: The Hawthorne City Council has decided to hand over fire and paramedic services to Los Angeles County in an attempt to save more than $1 million a year.
Acting City Manager Bud Cormier said the decision Monday was one of several cost-cutting measures the city has proposed to put a cap on spending. If approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in January, fire services via the county would cost the city about $4.6 million, compared with the annual $6.1-million city Fire Department budget.
Cormier said that some city officials are concerned about losing control of staffing levels at the three stations where 51 firefighters and paramedics work, but that the county has better equipment and several stations in surrounding areas.
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