Oct 21, 2008 5:45 pm US/Eastern
Baltimore Cuts Police And Fire Overtime
Reporting
Adam May
BALTIMORE (WJZ/AP) ―
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Baltimore City officials are cutting overtime in the police and fire departments to help reduce a nearly $37 million budget shortfall.
CBS
Baltimore City, like many major cities, is struggling to make ends meet.
Officials are cutting overtime in the police and fire departments to help reduce a nearly $37 million budget shortfall.
Almost $11 million in budget cuts are expected for the departments. Some police units will be disbanded, officer overtime will be slashed and fire equipment purchases and training programs are on hold.
Adam May reports the cuts will take effect Nov. 1.
The city is also extending a hiring freeze. Officials say the cuts should balance the budget, unless the economy gets worse.
"People are going to have to do more with less," Mayor Sheila Dixon said.
City officials blame a $15 million drop in anticipated revenue in real estate transfer and recordation taxes and a projected $21 million increase in police and fire overtime.
"Our department has been ignored fiscally by this administration and the last one," said Bob Sledgeski with the Firefighters Union.
In addition, Mayor Sheila Dixon says she is considering reducing recycling collections and cutting trash collection to once a week.
She also hasn't ruled out layoffs, but says she hopes to avoid them.
"The last resort is going to be furlough and layoffs," Dixon said. "This is a terrible time because what is, [the rainy day fund] is a one-time source and it will get worse before it gets better."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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