GOLDEN GATE, Fla -- Two fire commissioners announce they want to push forward 
plans for a functional consolidation of their districts.   The commissioners feel a merge of top administrative positions is both a cheaper 
and better way to run the districts and that now is the time to change the status quo.  Commissioners, union leaders, firefighters, fire chiefs and residents from  throughout Collier County packed the Fire Service Steering Committee meeting in  Golden Gate. Representatives from all five independent fire districts were  present.   Following two failed referendums from Tuesday night, consolidation was the topic  on everyone's mind.   North Naples Commissioner Jim Burke says, "everybody knows jobs will be affected  that's why they're not comfortable talking about it."   Burke and Golden Gate Fire Commissioner Kevin Gerrity announced they are going  to begin a push for a functional consolidation between their two districts.  Burke says, "the referendum Tuesday showed 60 percent of voters said you're not  getting anymore money out of us. Obviously we can't continue with this. We've  eventually got to change the status quo."   Commissioner Burke says they want to merge top administrative positions and  model their plan after what is happening in Immokalee and Big Corkscrew Island  where Rita Greenberg serves as chief in both districts.   Golden Gate Commissioner Chuck McMahon says there is no proof consolidating  saves the districts money. Plus, he says, there is nothing wrong with the way  the independent fire districts currently run.   McMahon says, "consolidation has its pluses and minuses but if its not a tax  saving event I'm not interested in it and if it's not efficient I'm not  interested in it."   Burke says they've been discussing functional consolidation for several months and 
believes there are cost savings to a merge, but he says it's difficult to get peole to 
change a 50 year old model. "We don't want anything that will reduce the number of people that respond to calls. That  has to be protected."   In order to move forward with functional consolidation they need a vote by the 
both Fire Commission Boards.