KENTWOOD -
The City of Kentwood cut $1.6 million from this fiscal year's budget which ends in June.
That is to avoid a $4 million budget hole next fiscal year.
Wednesday night Mayor Richard Root left the rest of the commission to join staff during presentations because of his role as a "strong mayor." He serves a unique position as mayor and manager.
He suggested eliminating 35 positions, 23 which are currently filled. Commissioners protested some of the cuts, putting the eventual number at 30.
That includes two police officers and three fire fighters.
Police Chief Richard Mattice told the Commission he's already made several reductions over the years, eliminating things like their motorcycle program.
Mattice said his department is being set back a decade, when they had 64 sworn officers in 1999. With these cuts they'll be down to 61 sworn officers.
"Will there be an impact on the safety of the community? Our perception is that there will be," said Mattice.
Non-sworn support staff will be reduced from 16.5 to 11.5. Those tasks, he said, will have to be absorbed by sworn officers.
Fire Chief James Carr said he's laying off three fire fighters and demoting four. For instance, a fire inspector will now work in fire suppression.
"We're going to miss these fire fighters," sad Carr. "These folks didn't do anything wrong."
Kentwood will go from four per station per shift to three per shift.
They will also eliminate "Med-3" non life threatening calls as part of the cuts.
Mayor Root said the cuts are because of a lack of state-shared revenue and an unprecedented drop in property values.
That is to avoid a $4 million budget hole next fiscal year.
Wednesday night Mayor Richard Root left the rest of the commission to join staff during presentations because of his role as a "strong mayor." He serves a unique position as mayor and manager.
He suggested eliminating 35 positions, 23 which are currently filled. Commissioners protested some of the cuts, putting the eventual number at 30.
That includes two police officers and three fire fighters.
Police Chief Richard Mattice told the Commission he's already made several reductions over the years, eliminating things like their motorcycle program.
Mattice said his department is being set back a decade, when they had 64 sworn officers in 1999. With these cuts they'll be down to 61 sworn officers.
"Will there be an impact on the safety of the community? Our perception is that there will be," said Mattice.
Non-sworn support staff will be reduced from 16.5 to 11.5. Those tasks, he said, will have to be absorbed by sworn officers.
Fire Chief James Carr said he's laying off three fire fighters and demoting four. For instance, a fire inspector will now work in fire suppression.
"We're going to miss these fire fighters," sad Carr. "These folks didn't do anything wrong."
Kentwood will go from four per station per shift to three per shift.
They will also eliminate "Med-3" non life threatening calls as part of the cuts.
Mayor Root said the cuts are because of a lack of state-shared revenue and an unprecedented drop in property values.
