Youngstown and firefighters agree on plans to reduce expenses

YOUNGSTOWN — City administrators have agreed to another early-retirement buyout for its firefighters in an effort to reduce expenses.

Also, the firefighters union agreed to base-pay freezes for the final two years of its contract, retroactive to Sept. 1.

The buyouts won’t save any money for the city this year, but the estimated savings would be about $250,000 in 2010 and about $200,000 in 2011, said city Finance Director David Bozanich.

The city’s general fund is expected to finish this year with a deficit of more than $1 million. City officials say the 2010 deficit is significantly more than $1 million, but haven’t given a figure.

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