Saginaw City (MI) Budget Cuts Impact Police, Firefighters

Public services bear the brunt of the cuts in the Saginaw City (MI) 2014 draft budget, reports minbcnews.com.

The $30.9 million general fund budget is about $820,000 less than what was allotted last year.  It eliminates a $3.2 structural deficit, mostly by reducing the police department to 55 officers and the fire department to 35 firefighters. That is a  cut of 36 sworn police officers and 15 firefighters.

Retired battalion chief Errol Burton said he’s deeply concerned about firefighters’ safety if this budget is approved. “What I’m concerned about is that firefighters are going to get killed.  I do not want to go to a firefighter’s death that’s been killed in the line of duty because they can’t provide him back-up.”

Assistant City Manager Phil Ludos said there’s a chance the police and fire unions could reach an agreement with the city before the fiscal year begins July 1.  The administration is meeting with the fire union Tuesday morning.

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