New Plan Would Save City Millions

Government Would Close For 5 Days

Police, Fire Unions Reject Proposed Furloughs

"I think what the mayor is trying to do is make it easy and say, 'Everyone does furloughs,' " he said. "Furloughs and layoffs are not the only way ... ."

Cherry also noted that public safety unions cooperated with a Dixon administration plan to reduce pension benefits last year, which saved the city between $5 million and $7 million. Without union support, Cherry said, the City Council would not have passed that bill.

Fire union officials say furloughs would force the department to widen its policy of closing fire companies on a rotating basis. The Fire Department now closes a maximum of four each shift, but the administration plan would lead to the closing of 10 each shift, said Capt. Stephan Fugate, president of the fire officers' union.

Bob Sledgeski, head of the firefighters union, said the department is "already cut to the bone." Sledgeski said it would be helpful to know what cuts Dixon plans to make on her staff.

Demaune Millard, Dixon's chief of staff, said the mayor cut $400,000 from her budget by laying off three office assistants, cutting 20 vacant positions, recalling about a dozen cell phones and BlackBerries from staff, and by cutting three vehicles from the fleet of 13 available to her office. Millard declined to say whether any of the SUVs used to ferry Dixon to events were among them.

Days city :

government would close:

Oct. 9

Nov. 27

Dec. 24

Jan. 15

May 28