Nothing in the city charter prevents San Bernardino, Calif., from outsourcing its Fire Department, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled on Wednesday in a blow to the fire union that its attorneys immediately said they would appeal, the San Bernardino Sun reported today. The ruling clears the way for the city’s plans to replace city firefighters — plans that have been underway for months —with the San Bernardino County Fire Department and the private firm Centerra. Both are submitting bids to provide fire service, which the city counted on to save $7 million to $10 million a year in its bankruptcy exit plan filed in May. It’s a limited ruling, because Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Jury said that attorneys may be able to convince her later that state law requires the city to go through a formal “meet and confer” process with union officials before outsourcing.
