By Robert Harding
The Citizen
AUBURN, N.Y. — With the city poised to adopt a budget that implements an across-the-board 8% spending cut, one department may avoid job cuts thanks to what a city councilor described as “iron-clad” labor agreements.
During the Auburn City Council meeting on Thursday, Councilor Craig Diego highlighted the contracts between the city and unions representing Auburn firefighters. The contracts, which cover assistant fire chiefs and rank-and-file firefighters, include minimum staffing levels and language that prevents job cuts in budgets.
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The same line appears in the city’s contract with Auburn Firefighters Local 1446 and the Assistant Fire Chief’s Association: “Positions will not be left vacant, nor abolished due to economic or budgetary constraints.”
The Citizen’s review of the city’s other employment agreements with Auburn Police Local 195, CSEA and the Professional EMTs of Auburn City Ambulance found there is not similar language in those contracts.
Diego lauded the firefighters’ unions for securing that language in the contracts, but criticized those in city management who signed the agreements, in part, because it may prevent budget cuts to the fire department at the expense of others.
The contract with Auburn Firefighters Local 1446 was signed on July 1, 2022. It was signed by 11 people — six of whom are affiliated with the union. The other five signatories included Auburn Mayor Michael Quill and City Manager Jeff Dygert, both of whom were longtime firefighters and former fire chiefs. It was also signed by other city leaders at the time — Auburn Fire Chief Mark Fritz, City Comptroller Rachel Jacobs and Corporation Counsel Stacy DeForrest.
Only Fritz is still employed by the city.
Diego asked Fritz, who attended the meeting on Thursday, to confirm the details in the contract, which he did.
When Fritz presented the fire department’s potential budget scenarios in early April, he told the council that 12 firefighters would lose their jobs if the city cut spending by 12%. Under the 8% option, nine firefighter positions would be eliminated.
Diego questioned whether those cuts would still occur because the city could face legal action from the firefighters’ union and would, in his view, likely lose. But Auburn Corporation Counsel Nate Garland was more optimistic about the city’s chances if that occurred.
Auburn City Councilor Terry Cuddy added that the firefighters’ contracts expire at the end of June — city officials confirmed negotiations are ongoing — and there could be a memorandum of understanding between the city and unions to allow the cuts. A memorandum of understanding would amend the existing agreements, which will remain in effect until there is a new contract.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Auburn Firefighters Local 1446 addressed Diego’s criticism by noting that its contract with the city “was previously negotiated and agreed upon with the city of Auburn .” The union added that it “remains actively engaged in contract negotiations with city officials in an effort to reach a fair, responsible and sustainable agreement that protects both the dedicated members of the fire department and the high level of emergency service that the citizens of Auburn have to come to expect and deserve.”
Auburn Firefighters Local 1446 said it has presented unspecified cost-saving proposals to the city, which are being reviewed.
Diego’s comments came as the City Council provided its feedback on the 2026-27 budget. Auburn City Manager Jenny Haines and City Comptroller Mary Beth Leeson will propose a balanced budget at the next meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 14 , at Memorial City Hall .
The City Council also voted to set public hearings on the proposed budget and a local law to override the property tax cap. Both hearings will coincide with the council meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Memorial City Hall.
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