Eugene / Springfield Merger

About the Merger

Since July 1, 2010, Springfield and Eugene Fire Departments have operated under an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the two cities to share the services of certain key administrative positions in both departments.

The primary benefit of a functional consolidation is that it permits both cities to share savings resulting from eliminating redundant resources, taking advantage of existing vacancies of key personnel. Meanwhile, service levels are being maintained or improved as a result of joint efficiencies. Since our May 2011 budget presentation and merger update, several significant steps have been taken to create a more efficient joint organization:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with IAFF Local 1395 on 8/9/11; allows merging of fire prevention and fire investigation programs with employees from Eugene and Springfield participating in work for both cities as a single fire prevention system.
• In September 2011, a Battalion Chief from Springfield and a District Chief from Eugene were re-assigned as BC/DC of different battalions, serving in the other city. This provided shift managers hands-on, day-to-day experience in another battalion/city and the opportunity to further share knowledge and streamline processes across the metro system.
• In December 2013, Ambulance Billing personnel merged their operations into one location, and from there began merging systems and processes, significantly reducing overall operating costs and increasing revenue.
• In August 2014, Operations personnel fully merged and now employees of the two cities work side-by-side in all Eugene and Springfield fire stations and on response apparatus. This has created a more effective workforce and produced significant efficiencies within the system.