I read with interest “Emergency service providers get $1 million” (Reading Eagle, Feb. 24) regarding the distribution of state funds to 59 Berks County agencies. Forty-six of those were fire companies. That seems to be a lot for our 866 square miles of ground and 429,000 people.
I am not originally from around here but lived here for about 20 years in the 1970s and ’80s and the last five years. I find Pennsylvania’s government entities difficult to understand. There seems to be much more bureaucracy than I have experienced in other places.
The many fire companies seem to be a part of that bureaucracy. I understand, somewhat, that a number of them are small and largely volunteer entities. I also understand that many are social entities as well. However, as our society becomes more complex and expensive, are multiple small fire companies with very expensive equipment, often sitting idle, a good use of resources?
In my area the Wyomissing and West Reading firehouses are less than 2 miles apart. Does that make any sense?
I understand questioning sacred cows may come with some backlash. However, sacred cows consume scarce resources that could perhaps be put to better use.
I lived in Cobb County, Ga., for six years. It has 796,000 people, 340 square miles, 110 schools, and one school district, not counting the city of Marietta.
Need I say more?
Robert Brems
Wyomissing