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Decatur to layoff 6 firefighters
The Herald-Review.com recently published an article detailing the financial challenges facing Decatur, as the city prepares to address a $1.6 million budget shortfall by implementing layoffs across multiple departments, including the fire department.
City Manager Ryan McCrady announced on Friday that 20 positions will be eliminated in the coming year, with six of those being firefighters. According to McCrady, 12 employees have already been notified of their termination, while eight other roles—either currently vacant or soon to be—will also be removed. The cuts are set to take effect at the end of the city’s fiscal year on December 31.
McCrady emphasized that most city departments will feel the impact, with the exception of the police department, which typically doesn’t use its full personnel budget, and the water department, which is funded through user fees rather than general funds.
The budget deficit stems from projected flat revenues, including sales and food and beverage taxes, while expenses continue to rise—particularly due to a 10% increase in pension costs. In addition to the firefighter layoffs, other affected roles include two senior clerk typists, four clerk typists, a human relations officer, a human resources training officer, a plan examiner, a plan development manager, a senior long-range planner, a rehab construction specialist, and two engineering technicians.
Four firefighter positions were already vacant, so the city won’t be closing any of its seven fire stations. However, the department will now operate with eight fire companies instead of nine, leading to more "brownout" procedures where some fire engines are shut down. McCrady acknowledged that this could lead to longer response times during emergencies, but he stressed that the city remains committed to public safety.
"We’re not saying running eight companies is ideal, but we believe it’s manageable and still allows us to protect the community," McCrady said.
The city’s workforce has shrunk significantly over the past five years, dropping from 576 employees to 490 today. Rising pension costs have placed increasing pressure on the operating budget, and although city council members have resisted raising property taxes, Mayor Mike McElroy recently warned that continuous cuts aren’t a sustainable solution.