YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Serious budget problems in Youngstown has city leaders taking desperate measures to cut costs.

That now includes permanently returning some ranking officers in the Youngstown Fire Department to their former status and taking one fire truck out of service.

21 News has learned that nine Youngstown firefighters were supposed to be delivered time sensitive letters on Thursday.

This comes after the city's administration wanted to move into executive session Wednesday night at the Youngstown City Council meeting.  The reason, so that the finance director and the mayor could inform city council members that a decision had been made to help balance the budget.  

But it won't come without some sacrifice from Youngstown firefighters. 

Mayor Tito Brown's administration knows there will be tough days ahead if they don't start cutting costs now to deal with a massive budget deficit in Youngstown.  That includes a $900,000 loss in income tax revenue with the recent closing of Northside Hospital.

So they've started to try saving with one of the city's largest departments.  The Youngstown Fire Department.

But the decision came as a shock to the firefighters and their union president, Lieutenant Tony Ciccone, who represents the Youngstown Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 312.

"I found out about this through coworkers texting me.  I've had no knowledge about this what we were doing up until today,"  Lt. Ciccone.

First, a fire truck with a bent frame will be taken "out of service"  freeing up $90,000 dollars in savings in 2019.

Second, the freeing up of the truck in simple terms also frees up 18 additional firefighters meaning they will not be assigned to a truck so they can help fill-in for "regular" overtime savings next year.  That can result in a "regular" overtime savings next year of $100,000.It's important to note that this year according to the finance department, the fire department used $118,000 in "regular" overtime because of injuries and other factors.

Thirdly, and most painfully for members of the union, three fire captains will be reduced in rank to lieutenants, and six lieutenants will be demoted back to officers.  According to figures provided by the union that savings is an estimated $69,000, but that could fluctuate.

Lt. Ciccone says, "This is devastating to the fire department, devastating."

In a statement from Mayor Brown he said,  "As a result of the financial forecast, the permanent restructuring of the fire department is necessary."

However, he's pleased that the plan means no fire stations will be closed and no firefighters will be laid off.

Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley tells 21 News he is okay with the plan because things could have been far worse.  He also is relieved that no one had to be laid off and no fire stations had to be closed.

What's most painful for the nine firefighters and their families receiving the letters is the loss of thousands of dollars to their household incomes with little warning.

Regarding the restructuring, Youngstown 7th Ward Councilwoman Basia Adamczak said, "I support it in terms of there are no fire stations being closed and no one is getting laid off. We're trying to figure out ways to right size the city as we don't have as much money as before. We don't have the income tax revenue coming in as previously so we just really have to look across the board to see how we can make cuts. We're still providing services for our city residents while being mindful of our financial situation."

Finance Director Kyle Miasek said it's critical that the city balance its budget and there could be additional downsizing, meaning all departments need to be reviewed. It's a message that Adamczak also reiterated.

"We're not singling out just the fire department. I think this is just a start. We're going to be looking at all of the departments across the board just to see where we can tighten our belts where we can have continued savings but above all, we don't want to lay anybody off if not necessary," she said.