Hamtramck laid off half its fire department today, and there's more pain to come.
Kyle Tertzag is Hamtramck's acting city manager.
"Financially, the city is in a dire situation. There's not sugar coating it. That's what it is."
Firefighters rejected $575,000 in concessions to help the city balance its budget. Tertzag says that rejection "complicates" the city's effort to secure a $3 million loan from the state. That's because the city's deficit elimination plan filed with the state assumed those concessions.
Meanwhile, Firefighters Local 750President, Lieutenant William Diamond, says there will be a huge need for overtime this month.
"We need 7 firefighters on duty every day and there’s going to be 15 guys to fill those 7 slots," Diamond says, adding that the department's remaining firefighters will have to alternate working 24-hour shifts.
