COSTA MESA : 7 Firefighters Lose Jobs in Budget Cuts

Seven firefighters were laid off and another 43 positions were slashed as the City Council this week closed a $6-million gap in its $61-million budget.

The cuts, which affect every city department, culminate months of debate over the 1993-94 budget and how to deal with looming state cutbacks. In the end, everything from Easter egg hunts to fire protection was trimmed.

Despite the slashing, which reduces the general fund by $4.6 million from last year’s spending, some residents felt that it did not go far enough.

“There is still a lot of pork in here,” said council watchdog John Feeney, who lamented city spending on the job center and other community services. “A lot of money is going to special interests.”

The city has been preparing for the worst for months, so Monday’s action came as no surprise. Employees who are losing their jobs had already been notified. Out of the 50 positions eliminated, 17 are vacant spots that will not be filled, while 33 employees were laid off.

Many residents expressed concerns over the elimination of nine firefighter positions, which results in the loss of an entire engine company. Fire Chief Jim Reed assured the community that public safety will not be jeopardized. However, he said his department will monitor response times to emergencies to track the impact of the cuts.

City officials said the cuts will not affect the number of firefighters per shift, which is set at 32.