HUNTINGTON -- Just like Huntington City Council did two weeks ago for the Huntington Police Department, council members agreed Saturday to restore money to the Huntington Fire Department in next year's budget.

As it stands now, neither department will have to face 20-day furloughs that other city departments face.

Approximately $432,155 was restored to the fire department's $10.1 million budget during a special budget session Saturday. It is one of four budget sessions council is holding to review a proposed $39.8 million budget that has to be balanced by the end of the month. A fourth special session is set for Saturday, March 27.

Forcing city firefighters to undergo a 20-day furlough would lead to higher home insurance costs for Huntington residents and businesses, said Fire Chief C. Creig Moore. It also would mean a less safe city, he said. The department is authorized for 107 members, but there currently are five vacancies, he said.

"I can only advise you that a reduction to operating costs for the Huntington Fire Department would result in catastrophic reductions in the ability to provide fire protection to the citizens of Huntington and would jeopardize the safety of the public and its firefighters," Moore said. "When time is of the essence, staffing is essential."

"We can't go backwards," council member Scott Caserta said. "We have to keep our residents and firefighters safe."

While council members have put about $1 million back into the budgets for the police and fire departments, council members haven't addressed where that money would come from.

Some options include cutting other departments and services, imposing a 1 percent occupation tax, increasing the city user fee from $3 to $4 per week or increasing the municipal service fee.

Mayor Kim Wolfe has recommended the occupancy tax, which would raise $10 million and replace the existing city user fee that produces about $4.5 million a year, said Finance Director Deron Runyon. A $1 per week increase in the user fee would raise about $1.5 million, Runyon said.

Wolfe said a proposed 1 percent occupation tax is needed "to keep our citizens safe." He said the service fee is regressive and hurts minimum wage employees. "I feel (the occupation tax) is the right decision."

The current budget proposal includes 20-day furloughs for about 125 city workers, those not in the police and fire departments.

"The realities are some departments are more important than others," said Council member Nate Randolph.

Council member Steve Williams said council members should address how they plan to deal with the $1 million it has put back in the budget. "We need to adjust revenues first," he said. "Otherwise, cuts will come from public works."

Council members didn't approve a proposal to put back another $190,000 in the fire department budget which included money for upgrading the fire marshal's office, for training and for promotions.

Wolfe's $39.5 million proposed budget for the year beginning July 1 showed an 11 percent reduction in spending in comparison to this year's original budget as officials predict lower revenues because of the recession.

Besides the 20-day rolling furloughs for all city employees, Wolfe had proposed laying off 11 civilian employees in the police and fire departments. As of now those positions won't be cut.

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