HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Huntington leaders have yet to draft a plan for addressing the city’s $4.8 million budget deficit, but Mayor Steve Williams says he will do everything he can to avoid layoffs.
The deficit, which was just recently brought to the public’s attention, was caused by increased insurance costs, an unexpected increase in the city’s police and fire pension contributions and overspending in the police and fire departments.
Williams said during Monday’s city council meeting that he’s working diligently with the police and fire departments to find ways to cut spending, news media outlets report.
But some argue that cuts could be dangerous. Because of a cap on overtime, the fire department was operating with 23 firefighters and one shift supervisor on Monday. It normally has 27 firefighters and one supervisor per shift. One of the department’s two ladder trucks was also taken out of service.
Former mayoral candidate Steven Davis said during the meeting that the mayor and city council - not the police and fire departments - should manage their finances differently.
“This is ugly stuff and we didn’t just get here overnight. We just didn’t get here because of pensions. We just didn’t get here because of insurance,” Davis said.
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