South King Fire and Rescue (SKFR) is placing another excess levy before voters in August, again asking for money to get one more aid car and close the budget gap.

I didn’t vote in the previous one and I don’t plan to vote for it in this election. If SKFR wants my vote, then they are going to have to convince me that my tax dollars will be wisely spent.

How can they do this? By explaining how they are the only job in the world where they get paid to sleep, cook, eat, play and occasionally work. Firefighters often work 24-hour-long shifts. During this time, they cook meals, they watch TV, they play volleyball and occasionally respond to a call.

Not only do we pay them to “hang” around the play area (I mean, the fire station), we also pay for their filet mignon, lobster and caviar, not to mention their flat-screen TV and who knows what else.

If they want to close the budget gap, perhaps they could do what every other job in the world does: go to an eight-hour shift. The last time I checked, police don’t work 24-hour shifts, and neither do hospital workers. So why is it so important that firefighters do?

Like I said, maybe it’s because they “play” more than they work. When you are at work during your eight-hour day, perhaps you can be doing something productive (like training, etc).

I’m sure this change in policy will be more than enough to close the gap. If you want my vote, maybe you can explain this.

Gregory Warner, Federal Way