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Public hearing on fire cuts set

DANVILLE – The fire at 107 N. Vermilion St. last week reinforced Gerri Lawrence's stance on proposed firefighter cuts – the city can't afford to lose any.

"I don't know what we'd have done if we didn't have these guys," Lawrence said.

There will be a public hearing on the city's fiscal 2008-09 budget during the city council meeting on Tuesday.

The new budget year begins May 1. Aldermen are scheduled to adopt the new budget on April 15.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer has proposed cutting nine firefighter positions as a way to avoid a $330,000 shortfall in next year's budget.

He initially said it would take an additional $440,000 to prevent the cuts, but after recent revenue adjustments, he revised that to $310,000.

Firefighters asked the city council's public services committee last week to remove the proposed cuts from the budget.

But some aldermen refused, noting that all departments could be subjected to cuts as they continue to discuss the budget.

Public Safety Director Larry Thomason proposed fees for services provided by the firefighters, which range from $10 to $400.

Aaron Marcott, president of the local firefighters union, said the union has a similar fee proposal as part of 15 options to raise revenue. The union is hosting a public meeting at 6 p.m. today at Station 3, 1111 N. Griffin St.

Lawrence, who is chairwoman of the Oaklawn Improvement Association, said she was aware of the city's budget constraints, but said cutting firefighters should not be an option.

"I think we need them all," Lawrence said. "You're always going to have people on vacation. You're always going to have people sick. What if there had been two of these fires?"

The city council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at city hall, 17 W. Main St.