By Jeremy Redmon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

EAST POINT, Ga. — East Point is considering closing up to three of its five fire stations to avoid having to furlough all of its municipal employees as the city grapples with a budget deficit that could reach $8 million.

City officials said they could not immediately say how many firefighters would have to be laid off to close three stations. The south Fulton County city of more than 42,000 residents employs 116 people in its Fire Department.

The City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the budget. The meeting location had not been decided Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm studying the options now and what to do and how we can best continue to keep the quality of service for our public safety in line," said Mayor Pro Tem Clyde Mitchell, chairman of the council's Finance Committee. "Furloughs ... I can tell you that is the last thing on my mind that we would want to do."

Mitchell said he would consult fire Chief Rosemary Cloud about whether closing any of the stations would hurt 911 response times. Cloud did not return a telephone call Tuesday.

Over the weekend, Interim City Manager Crandall O. Jones pitched the idea of closing three fire stations after council members told him they did not support furloughs, said Mayor Joseph L. Macon. Jones did not respond to repeated requests for comment Tuesday.

Macon said the city manager has identified three stations that could be closed for a savings of about $5 million: Station No. 1 at 2757 East Point St., Station No. 2 at 3171 Norman Berry Drive and Station No. 5 at 3949 Washington Road.

Mitchell, however, said all five of the city's fire stations are on the table, though it is unlikely the council would discuss closing more than three.

City officials are projecting a budget deficit for next fiscal year ranging from $5 million to $8 million. It is unclear what else the city could do to close the budget gap if it exceeds $5 million.

The fiscal year starts July 1.

The mayor said he supports closing the stations over the furloughs, but he said both would be on the table for council discussion Tuesday. If the city closes the stations, Macon said, it can rely on the "mutual aid" agreements it has with fire departments in nearby cities.

"It is simply a situation where we probably have more fire department than we can afford," Macon said.

Macon blamed the projected budget deficit on a variety of factors, including a history of increasing city debt.

Meanwhile, employees are growing frustrated with the lack of information coming out of City Hall about the proposal to furlough them, says the police union chief.

Sgt. Ron Walker, president of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers East Point Local 592, said city employees need to know when and how East Point would furlough them so they can prepare for the loss of income, if it comes to that. He also doubts the city could save $5 million by closing three fire stations.

"Nobody knows what they are going to do," said Walker, who said he was among numerous city employees and others who packed a City Council meeting for answers Monday night. "We would like some clarification."

Copyright 2008 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution