Warren officials trying to avoid layoffs in the fire department - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

Warren officials trying to avoid layoffs in the fire department

Posted: Updated:

WARREN, Ohio - The city of Warren is facing a new challenge to maintain staffing levels in the fire department, but layoffs are expected.

At a meeting of the finance committee on Tuesday it was announced that Warren's latest application for a federal SAFER grant has been denied.

The federal funding has been paying the salaries of 15 to 20 firefighters.

"Our immediate goal is to see where we can find money within the budget to save as many of those firefighters as we can from layoffs," said Mayor Doug Franklin.

"It's important that if solutions are to be found, and we believe they will be found, we're only going to be able to find them together," said Warren Safety Service Director Enzo Cantalamessa.

The current SAFER grant funding will run out May 26th.

Mayor Franklin says because grants are not guaranteed, the SAFER funds were not included in the city's 2013 budget.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WFMJ. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms