AKR FIRE OT CUTS 

AKRON FIREFIGHTERS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM THAT PROPOSED CITY BUDGET CHANGES COULD IMPACT HOW QUICKLY HELP ARRIVES. 
AKRON HAS LOST ABOUT 25 FIREFIGHTERS IN RECENT YEARS AND HAVE NOT HIRED IN TWO YEARS. THIS HAS LED TO THE DEPARTMENT GOING 6-MILLION DOLLARS OVER ITS OVERTIME BUDGET WHICH THE CITY WANTS TO CUT. THE PRESIDENT OF THE AKRON FIREFIGHTERS UNION SAYS CREWS ARE HANDLING BOTH FIRE AND MEDICAL CALLS, KEEPING THEM TIED UP LONGER. 3NEWS ALSO SPOKE WITH AKRON'S FIRE CHIEF OVER THE PHONE WHO AGREED THAT OVERTIME HAS GOTTEN OUT OF HAND...AND THAT HE, AS AN AKRON RESIDENT, STANDS BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM.