DELAWARE, Ohio -- The city of Delaware sits in the fastest growing county in Ohio.
But while neighborhoods spread, its police force struggles to keep pace.
The department faces even leaner times thanks to a projected $1.9-million budget deficit.
To save money, City Manager Tom Homan proposed an across-the-board wage freeze to all bargaining units. But union members voted it down this month.
"What we initially thought was going to be a discussion with the city about what our options would have been -- it was basically the city manager told us you either take a pay freeze or we're going to lay people off," said Sgt. J. Hike, F.O.P representative for Delaware police.
Without an agreement, the city instead proposed eliminating six positions, including two patrol officers, a firefighter and two tech positions within the Utilities and Public Works departments. It would save the city $459,541.
City Spokesperson Lee Yoakum said these cuts only are proposals.
"The council will have an opportunity to weigh in, and during that time we will also be listening to the bargaining unit to see if there is a chance they may reconsider," Yoakum said.
The two sides say they plan to worker together to find alternatives to cutting public-safety services.
Delaware isn't the only city struggling to meet budget next year, either.
In Newark, Mayor Bob Diebold faces a 2010 deficit of $3.4 million. He proposed cuts in funding to both fire and police and closing the city pool next summer.
In Lancaster, the city will leave 10 positions vacant. Eight were layoffs from this year. The other two positions will be lost through retirements. Also, two firefighter positions will remain vacant, and there will be no loose-leaf pickups in 2010.
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