PALO ALTO, Calif. (KCBS)- Budget problems in the city of Palo Alto could lead to a showdown with firefighters on Monday.
The City Council takes up a firefighter-backed measure that could prevent fire crews from being laid off.
After gathering more than 6,000 signatures, the Palo Alto firefighter measure goes before the City Council Monday night for approval, but council members have been critical of the proposal that aims to save firefighter jobs.
According to the Chronicle, Mayor Pat Burt called the
initiative “inappropriate on behalf of the firefighters”.
“The staffing level that we currently have would be locked into the charter. The only way you could reduce one fire person would be for the entire city to vote and change the city charter. That’s how extreme this measure is,” said Burt.
Others are opposed to putting the cost of the measure on the ballot estimated at $190,000 dollars.
The firefighters union has said they are concerned about losing critical staff.
The city of Palo Alto is currently facing a $7.3 million deficit.
