East Point to close 2 fire stations, fire employees

EAST POINT - The East Point City Council has agreed to close two fire stations in an effort to save money.

The council agreed to the move Tuesday despite objections from hundreds of residents at the meeting.

Officials estimate 65 firefighters will be fired. Another 35 city employees in other departments also stand to lose their jobs as the city tries to address an $8 million budget shortfall.

The vote leaves the city of 41,000 residents with three fire stations. City officials expect to save more than $3 million with the cuts.

Closing the fire stations will eliminate another controversial money-saving proposal City Manager Crandall Jones had made: to furlough all city employees one day per week.

Beginning July 1, the city also will suspend all paid holidays and scale back employee benefits.