Our say: Fire department's overtime mess badly needs fixing

Two years ago, we asked readers to give us suggestions on handling a county budget crunch. The county service that drew the fewest suggestions for cuts - even after a spate of stories about swollen overtime expenses - was the county fire department. Who wants to scrimp when it comes to an agency that safeguards lives and property?

We don't imagine public sentiment has altered since then. But it's disheartening to find out - long after a county committee made extensive recommendations on limiting overtime expenses - that the fire department still can't control that part of its budget.

Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell has announced...