The Oswego City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve Mayor Thomas Gillen’s proposed budget. That will mean a property tax rate hike of about 11 percent.
The budget includes funding cuts to various programs. Members of the Oswego Fire Department were outspoken against cuts to their department, which includes ambulance service. But the mayor said some things had to give to make up for the budget shortfall.
The number of firefighters on a shift will now be reduced to ten, two ambulances will be taken out of service, and the remaining ambulances will no longer serve towns which have decided to use a private contractor.
The fire department budget cuts proposal had originally included closing Oswego’s west side fire station. But that station will remain open in the new budget year.