By Justin Engel
Michigan Live
BAY CITY, Mich. — The Bay City Commission on Monday, Dec. 3, approved a measure to put 12 Bay City police officers capable of fighting fires on the streets while laying off 14 firefighters by July.
In a 6-3 vote, the commission weighed in during a nearly three-hour session that featured commission in-fighting and emotional public comment.
The proposal to merge the police and fire departments, city leaders say, will alleviate budget shortfalls by reducing the public safety budget by $1.8 million yearly beginning in 2017.
Full story: Bay City will merge police, fire departments; decision follows heated exchanges