More Budget Cuts For Police And Fire

By Lindsay Watts

COLORADO SPRINGS-The city’s police and fire departments had their budgets slashed this year, but next year even bigger cuts are expected. It’s why, for the first time ever, the city is hosting a series of meetings where you can weigh in on public safety cuts. The first is happening tomorrow at 7pm at Deerfield Community Center.

“I can tell you, what we hear in these meetings will be critical,” says CSPD Sgt. Steve Noblitt. “You can give us some ideas on what’s important to you and maybe not so important.”

Another reason for the meetings is to prepare the public for what’s to come if budget predictions are accurate.

“It’s not that we’re not going to show up at your house,” saysFire Lt.Mike Smaldino.”It’s just we’re not going to show up in the 6-8 minutes we want to, it might be a little bit longer.”

Dozens of police and fire positions are already going unfilled.

“We haven’t had a recruit class in over three years now,” says Smaldino.

He says there’s been some behind the scenes talk aboutputting apublic safety tax to the voters,but also big hesitations about even suggesting that in the tough economy.

The four community meetings are an unprecedented step to address the budget issues almost a year in advance.

“This is the earliest it’s ever happened, so there aredefinitely some concerns out there,” says Smaldino.

Deerfield Community Center is located at 4290 Deerfield Hills Road. Theothermeetings are scheduled for April 13, May 4 and May 25, but the locationshave not been finalized.