The Saginaw fire department faces deep cuts in a proposed budget going before the city council Monday night.
The budget calls for laying off 13 firefighters, reducing the department from 51 to 38 officers. Two of Saginaw’s four fire stations would also close.
An expiring federal grant is the reason for the cuts.
A $2 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant expires next month. The city has applied for a renewal. But they don’t expect to hear back until this summer.
Without knowing if they will get the grant, Saginaw city officials have to budget accordingly.
