A nearly four million dollar deficit is forcing Rockford leaders to make some tough decisions. The latest plan would cut 30 employees and leave another 30 positions vacant.
In a show of solidarity Monday night, Rockford firefighters asked aldermen not to cut their staffing, or risk damaging public safety.

Rockford firefighters pack in to city hall to listen to their union president E.J. Dilonardo deliver a strong message.

"The line has been drawn and we have not drawn it," says Dilonardo. "I stake our reputation, our honor and our lives on defending that line."

Dilonardo says the firefighters union will not back down from its stance that reducing manpower damages public safety. Rockford administrators are now planning to lay off eight firefighters, as part of city-wide cuts to fill a four million dollar deficit.

But Dilonardo says cutting staffing will actually cost the city more than it will save, because the department has an agreement that it must have a certain number of firefighters on duty every day.

"The last three months of this year will cost the city more in overtime than what it will cost to keep them on duty," says Dilonardo.

The fire, police and AFSCME unions have a chance to present alternative cuts before the layoffs go through.

"We're willing to look at anything, it's going to take the city negotiating team to sit down with the union negotiating team and come up with whatever proposal they can," says Rockford Alderman Carl Wasco.

But Dilonardo says the city has rejected his union's past proposals to save millions through wage freezes and, he says, "A quarter of a million dollars a year in furloughs, forever."

Plus, Dilonardo says the city is now asking for extra concessions... "So they can lay these firefighters off and not have it cost more money."

But city leaders say asking for layoffs is a last resort in these tough times.

Alderman Wasco says, "The revenue shortages are real, it's never easy to have to look somebody in the eye and say we may have to cut your position."

The other layoffs include eight police officers and several public works employees. If the unions don't come up with viable alternatives, the cuts are set to take effect October 2nd.

We also spoke with the president of the city's AFSCME union. He says his union stands to lose four members. He's calling on city leaders to find creative ways to trim spending and save jobs.