Station House Fund ?'s

[Lt. Dave E93]

We are a career department with 4 stations (and several more on the drawing board)and only one house fund account for all. Our "fund" is $5.00 per pay day per member. We have 66 people on shift, and I think it is time that we separate the house fund $$ to each house, so that the guys at my house put in their $ for our house, likewise for the other stations.
As it is currently, the fund purchases condiments, cable TV, newspaper, etc. It also buys bigger things like stereo systems, patio furniture, DVD Players, etc. We vote on these things (2/3 majority wins)
My questions are: how does your department do it? How much does each station get $$
or percentage? Is paying into yor house fund a requirement by your SOG's or SOP's? (ours is not!)
Please either respond or email me at [email protected] with your replies.
Thanks Bro's & Sisters. Sorry for the length!

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Lt. Dave E93
Fishers Fire Dept.
Fishers, IN

"...to know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded. " Ralph Waldo Emerson

[Kyle Wickman]

Each station has there own. Sometimes we have to beat the money out of people. I like paying because we buy the same thing you guys buy. I hate lottery pools. Its a wast of money. We have a few guys that HAVE to have lottery tickets. When it gets big they hound people for money. You don't have to pay but, when you don't thats when they are going to win. If we ever do win, the lottery freaks should break even.

[FitzBFDT2]

We have seven(7) stations with each having their own coffee fund(buys more than coffee-cable tv, condiments, etc.). Every member in each of the houses pays $5 every 2 weeks. more than adequate for our needs.

I have to ask, 66 people on a shift @ $5 a day comes out to a pretty hefty fund. What are you guys buying with it, gold.

Take care and be safe

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Kevin M. Fitzhenry, [email protected]
Firefighter, Truck Co. 2
City of Bayonne (NJ) FD
www.bayonnenj.org/fire/

[FFD#35]

What about the little three man house ? They might need a little loan when it comes time to replace the "Big Screen" or the surround sound. I guess this would mean they would not be able to get their heated and vibrating recliners either. Have a great day Lt.

[ff25wfd]

We are a career department with 12 stations.Each station has there own seperate "coffee kitty". The "coffee kitty" collects $10 per man every month, which pays for coffee, condiments, cable, outside phone lines etc. Bigger purchases such as tv's or grills are usually bought with profits from the soda and juice vending machines ( $.50 ) a can. Other purchases such as gym equipment is paid by those wanting the equipment. Sure there are deadbeats that are late in paying. We have 4 different working groups with there names on the coffe kitty chart, those that are deadbeats are usually "persuaded to cough it up"

[4iron]

We are funded by 3 funds.New TV's/vcr's are funded by a yearly Benefit Association,dues are $24.00/person annually.Each house has their own funds ie:soda/candy and general food kitties.The soda/candy kitty(generated by their profits)usually takes care of the newspaper/cable bills and depending on the balances other non-essentials.ie:surround sound,extra TV's,pot/pans,ect.The food kitty,we buck up $5.00/day,of which,$1.50/day/person goes to the food kitty for bread,milk condiments,ect.
Three person stations have a harder time vs 5+ at a station.But they make it.We find different stations/shifts have a harder time making it if you don't have 1 person running/accounting the in house kitties.Buying food/soda/candy on sale is very important.Right now for example,our station has a few hundred bucks in our soda kitty alone,we're looking to blow it on a DVD player.I can't imagine trying to run a system any other way other than per firehouse.

[TXFIRE6]

We have 13 stations, varying in personnel from 3 to 6 a shift(depending on mult- or multi- company). The "station bill" as it is called is determined by how the Captain for that station wants it done. Some stations have a "staples list" of groceries that can be taken out of the kitty, and others do not. Some have small amount of staples: ie; coffee, milk, sugar,...and others have extensive lists of all condiments imagineable. Some stations have no staples on the list at all, and there fore have a lower station bill. Those stations buy sodas for the machines, the newspaper, and movies channels on T.V. and a "skiln line" which is a private phone line. Large items are voted on, and the station gets a loan from the bank for the item. Station bills run between $5 a month to $6 a paycheck depending on how much it pays for as determined by the Captain.It works pretty well. Food is a daily item either by fixed amount ($5 a man) or by just paying the total divided up. Thats up to the individual crew.

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Any Opinion expressed, are my own, and do not reflect my Department...RB

[Lt. Dave E93]

Hey There #35 (aka Trader!!) That is a valid point and one that I am aware of...that is why I put this posting on here, to figure out how other departments handle 3 man firehouses. Pretty interesting responses so far!
Just so all others know, our headquarters station has 9 guys, one sub station has 3 guys, and the other subs have 5 each. Oh, and we have 9 more guys in recruit class right now so those #'s will go up.
For Fitz....Sounds like we are the same as your department...everyone puts in $5 a pay...about every 2 weeks. Not buying gold, just everything else!!
Keep the replies coming! Thanks!


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Lt. Dave E93
Fishers Fire Dept.
Fishers, IN

"...to know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded. " Ralph Waldo Emerson

[15hoseman]

In the DCFD most houses do it by house & platoon. $5 a man each payday, or every 2 weeks. Those who don't pay up are excluded from housefund item usage...t.v. newspaper, condiments, etc. If a large item needs bought, the four platoons pool their money. Soda money goes in, too. Single houses typically have an engine with 4-5 men assigned, and at least one EMS unit with 2 people assigned, so we don't have the 3 man problem.

[Captain Gonzo]

Each Station and group has its own "house kitty". On my group, we pay $2 per week per person and have a special assessment if needed. The money collected from the Coke machine,the "Coke Fund", pays for the big ticket items.

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Firefighters: rising under adverse conditions to accept the challenge!
Captain Gonzo

[gunnyv]

We do $2 a man per day. Includes coffee, newspaper, condiments, bread, potatos,propane for the grill,all the spices, . My house (3 guys/day) does much better than HQ with 8 guys. It all revolves around two things: one guy taking charge and making bulk purchases at Sam's/Costco (warehouse clubs), and the rest being responsible about day to day needs. We also buy goodies, pop, gatorade and sell it for fifty cents, pays for the fish tank supplies!The t.v.s, stereo, etc are bought through the union.

[LFD2203]

in lex., ky, i think every house has a " coke fund" that is used in various ways. for the most part, the profits from the soft drink sales go into the coke fund, and used to pay for cable tv, newspaper, condiments, etc.
some houses collect a per month fee (i have paid from $2 to $5) to defer costs of the cable bill or paper (we have to pay for movie channels, the franchise contract requires cable provider to provide basic cable services to all city owned property for no cost). while other houses cover all expenses out of the coke fund.
there always seems to be a difference of opinion if a fund starts to accumulate some "wealth". usually these are houses that collect monthly for cable, etc. guys want to stop paying for cable and let the fund pick it up.
i always feel that it is a good idea to pay for cable with a monthly fee. that way, the fund has some money available to replace the big screen when it dies.
by paying a monthly fee, you are paying as you go. if you do not, then you will have to dig in the pocket to help fund the replacement tv. if you have to shell out $20 to help pay for the tv, then get transferred a couple of months later, you got shafted....that makes the paying a little each month the fairer of the options.
i have been in a lot of stations where some guy comes in with a 2 ltr. bottle of coke. this usually is not a good idea. i have seen the 2 ltr.go down the drain, or poured out into glasses for everyone in the station to share. if you want to watch the movies, read the paper, or have mustard on your sandwich, you better buy the soft drink out of the station's machine..