BALTIMORE --
Baltimore city leaders are grappling with one of the tightest spending plans in years and City Council members are asking those leaders if that is putting public safety at risk.
Every department head was ordered to make cuts, including fire and police.
Council members who are already angry at the mayor's proposal to cut funding to recreation centers, child care and pool hours were eager to hear testimony from the city's public safety leaders.
City Fire Chief James Clack told the council Wednesday afternoon that he had to cut overtime by $10 million. He said he was able to make moves to keep his full staff so response time wouldn't be diminished.
The fire department reallocated resources, replacing two fire suppression units with medic units, which removed the only ladder downtown.
"We perceive the closing of a fire unit as the closing of a station. There are many old buildings there and many schools there," said city Councilwoman Agnes Welch.
Throughout the process, Clack admitted the reductions cut deeply.
"I did say we need several more medic units. I did say I don't want to close any other engines or trucks. I'm a fire chief, but I have to be a realist," he said.
As it currently stands, the mayor's budget is meeting stiff resistance, but she said the cuts are needed.
"This is not about politics. This is about providing quality, effective, efficient services that are working and that we've been improving upon, and based on a zero-growth budget, making sure our priorities are still in place," Dixon said.
Dixon warned that the cuts will not be restored to council members' pet programs.
"It won't be restored. That's it. It goes," she said.
The police budget is expected to be less contentious. Police officials are expected to speak with City Council members Wednesday evening.
Under the police budget plan, the department will be fully staffed with more officers on patrol and a more realistic overtime allocation thanks to a $7.5 million increase.
