MANCHESTER, N.H. --
Manchester Fire Chief James Burkush said the cuts proposed to his department by the mayor's budget could mean roaming station closures and possibly slower response times.
Mayor Frank Guinta has proposed cutting about $500,000 from the city's fire department. One option to save the money would be furloughs, but a spokesman for the city's firefighter's union said he doesn't believe that's a good idea.
If furloughs are not enacted, Burkush said the current budget proposal would result in the layoffs of 20 to 25 uniformed firefighters. That translates into a decrease of about five firefighters and one or two pieces of apparatus out of service per shift.
The chief cautioned that it is early in the budget process and nothing is set in stone, but he said hard choices may have to be made if some sort of compromise isn't met.
Guinta said he disagrees with the chief's numbers and is hoping he can reach a compromise with the union.
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