Council to vote on labor deal

Officials have released details of a labor deal designed to resolve a budget crisis and keep the city out of bankruptcy court.

The tentative agreement released Friday calls for a 6.5% pay cut for police and fire employees, the closure of two fire engine companies and fewer on-duty staff members. The deal provides for a one-year contract extension to 2011, but only if the two sides can agree on a long-range fiscal plan by April 22.

City officials and union leaders reached the agreement Thursday, just before the council was to vote on seeking bankruptcy protection to deal with a $9-million budget shortfall. The council will decide at a special meeting Monday night whether to accept the labor pact or file for bankruptcy.