From The News Journal, May 21

WILMINGTON, DE – Last-minute negotiations between the city and its police and fire unions stalled Wednesday, setting up a vote on next year's budget by City Council tonight that includes layoffs of 17 police officers and eight firefighters.

Mayor James M. Baker's administration wants all municipal unions to accept pay freezes for the next fiscal year, which begins in July, in exchange for no layoffs. The blue- and white-collar unions have accepted the offer, as has the 10-member unit of high-ranking police officers.

But the firefighters union and the rank-and-file police officers' bargaining unit have rejected it, saying there is too much fat in other areas of the budget to justify the request.

That puts the 13 council members in the position of voting for a $145 million budget that will include double-digit hikes to property taxes and water-sewer fees, but will offer the taxpayers fewer police officers and firefighters to protect them. The proposals are all part of an effort to stave off an estimated $21.5 million shortfall.

"This is without a doubt the most difficult vote I'll ever have to make," said Councilman Sam Prado, who is in his fifth year in office. Prado said he's undecided, but is leaning toward approving the budget because state and New Castle County employees, as well as many private-sector workers, are facing worse scenarios than city employees.

"Given what's happening elsewhere, I don't think it's a bad deal," he said. "I don't know why the police and fire unions aren't accepting it."

The presidents of the police and fire unions say layoffs would hurt response times and make the city less safe. The police and fire chiefs said service would not be affected by the cuts.

Firefighters' Union President Kevin Turner said the layoffs, in addition to the city's planned "rolling bypass," a move to shut down one engine truck each day to cut down on overtime, could have catastrophic results.

"We'll be down from 38 to 34 people protecting the city at any given time," he said. "If our response time is delayed by even 30 seconds, which I think it could be, that could be the difference between someone hanging from a window of a burning building being rescued or dying. That's what it could come down to."

Fire Chief Willie Patrick said the department generally makes it to a fire call in about two-and-a-half minutes and does not see that changing with eight fewer firefighters.

"We're going to make up for having fewer people and on less trucks by reorganizing how and where we staff the platoons in the different stations," he said. "Response times and safety of our citizens will not be compromised."

Police Union President George Collins said the proposed layoffs of his members will result in at least three fewer officers per patrol shift.

"A fact of life in Wilmington is that when summer hits, people come out of their houses and commit more crimes, so we obviously won't be able to do as good a job," he said.

Police Chief Michael Szczerba wouldn't say how many fewer officers would be on the streets, but disputed Collins numbers, saying all departments would take hits, not just the patrol division.

"As always, I will remain dynamic and we'll make adjustments weekly, or hourly if necessary," Szczerba said. "I refuse to allow financial circumstances to control the destiny of this department."

Councilwoman Loretta Walsh, chair of the council's public safety committee, said she will vote against the budget tonight because she agrees with the police and fire unions' leadership that cuts could have been made in other departments, including the office of economic development.

"But I'm not sure if fire and police services will suffer because of the cuts," she said. "Until we're slapped in the face with the results, all that would be is speculation."

Leaders from the police and fire unions met with top Baker officials Wednesday to come up with a compromise. Collins said he offered ways to cut the police budget without having to lay off officers, but would not provide specifics. Turner said he suggested not allowing 15 vehicles issued to firefighters to be taken home each day, which is the current practice.

Both union leaders said the city wasn't interested in their ideas and that all they want to hear is that the unions will accept a wage freeze.

"The city proposed no new ideas and didn't seriously listen to ours," Collins said. "We talked but it wasn't a negotiation. They say their door is open, but it's only open in case we want to cave in to their request."

Rago said the city's discussions with police union were "positive," but would not comment on how the session with the firefighters went.

The city would be willing to accept a change of heart by the two unions at any time, even it if happens after the budget vote. The council could re-open the budget before the fiscal year begins and change it to reflect the $1.4 million in savings that would occur if the wage freezes went into effect.

"The mayor's position all along has been that he doesn't want layoffs," Rago said. "Any time the unions say they'll go along with no pay increases, we'll go that route."

That is a departure from previous statements Rago has issued to the press on Baker's behalf. The statements have included hard deadlines that have come and gone with no layoff notices going out. The tactic irritates Turner and Collins.

"They've drawn more than one line in the sand and have jumped behind it each time," Collins said. "I'll guarantee you this: If the budget fails, the administration will be the ones calling us first asking to get back to us with new ideas."

Rago said the city changed its mind about sending out layoff notices at the end of last week, when it said it would, because they thought it would be better to wait until after council votes on the budget tonight.

"We felt that issuing the notices as originally planned could inflame the unions that were still considering their final positions and we felt that sending notices with such uncertain terms would cause stress for employees who are already stressed in any type of layoff environment," Rago said.

The council will vote on the budget tonight at the Louis L. Redding City-County Building, Eighth and French streets. The meeting begins with a public-comment session at 6 p.m.