Firefighters weighing budget options

TOLEDO - Jim Martin, president of Toledo Firefighters Local 92, said morale is low within his department now that they are facing several cuts due to the city’s nearly $28 million deficit.

“For the past few years the firefighters have always stepped up,” Martin said. “They’ve taken on more work, they’ve tried to help the city recover from any budget problems they had.”

Martin added that although the department is understaffed, they still have an obligation to keep citizens and themselves safe.

Some members of the Toledo Police Department have opted for early retirement due to the possibility of serious wage and other cuts but so far no one from the fire department has come forward to do so.

However, Martin believes it is still possible that some of the more than 100 firefighters eligible for retirement will leave earlier than expected.

On Tuesday Toledo City Council will vote on several ordinances that could allow the city to go around contract agreements and make some changes to the fire and other departments.