By Eric Stirgus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATLANTA — Atlanta police and fire-rescue union leaders say the city's budget woes will hurt their departments — despite Mayor Shirley Franklin's stated goal to maintain current service levels.

Police Department union leader Scott Kreher, a sergeant, said city officials have told him an undetermined number of civilian jobs in the department will be cut and that no additional positions will be added to the police force.

Kreher is concerned some police officers will be taken off their beats to help do office work civilians now perform.

"We just don't want guns and badges put in those positions," said Kreher, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 623.

Atlanta Fire Rescue Lt. Jim Daws, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 134, said he's heard 44 vacancies in the department will not be filled.

He's also heard 18 firefighters will be reassigned from various fire stations to the station at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, which has several unfilled positions. Daws said the changes will mean fewer firefighters on duty in neighborhood fire stations.

"It's bad news for the firefighters," Daws said. "They're going to have to take [more] risks to protect the public."

Fire Rescue Capt. Bill May, a department spokesman, said it is too early to discuss staff changes resulting from the budget. "It's still premature to say anything about it," May said Thursday afternoon.

Union concerns about the size of the work force come as crime is increasing in Atlanta, and the city's new fire chief has talked about keeping adequate staff when nearly 15 percent of its uniformed personnel — about 150 firefighters — are expected to retire in the next three years.

Franklin is scheduled to deliver her proposed budget Thursday to some City Council members for the 12-month period beginning July 1. Her aides anticipate a $140 million shortfall and are planning to cut services to most departments by 25 percent. The mayor has said public safety departments such as police and fire-rescue would not face 25 percent cuts.

City employees were warned this week layoffs were likely.

Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution