At first, the department relied on people to go through all that information, a mind-numbing, time-consuming task.

His department now relies on reports from city agencies about contracts that they have awarded.

Currently, he said, the department relied largely on existing job openings to gauge what would be needed.

The agency said the department has relied mostly on voluntary reporting of deaths as a basis for ending benefits.

At the same time, the department and nutritionists increasingly rely on money from the food industry.

The department, like all volunteer departments, relies on the citizens of its town for donations and more.

Normally, the department relies on a neighboring company to respond when a second fire occurs in one area.

Since it was founded 35 years ago, the department has relied on contractors for almost everything it does.

The department has also relied on undercover surveillance, including stakeouts, to identify suspects, he said.

The department, though it uses various rules of thumb to serve as benchmarks, ultimately relies on its best judgment, they said.