Warren’s 2009 budget includes layoffs of safety forces

WARREN — The city has its 2009 budget in place, but some city council members remain displeased with the spending plan that calls for laying off more than 30 police officers and firefighters.

In a special meeting today, council voted to suspend the required public readings of the $28.6 million budget and approve it.

Council members Robert Dean, D-at large, and Susan Hartman, D-7th, both voted against suspension of the readings and budget approval.

Hartman said she requested, but never received, information from the auditor’s office that would have been pertinent to her decision on the spending plan and, therefore, could not vote for it.

Dean said he simply could not vote in favor of a budget that would eliminate so much of the city’s safety forces.

“Somebody has to say that you just can’t lay off a quarter of your police department,” he said.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com