Fire Chief Dennis Daniels appeared before the committee at a budget workshop in the aldermanic chamber at City Hall saying that a study of the city's fire service is ongoing.

Daniels requested that $1.2 million be allocated for overtime costs next year but the Office of Management and Budget lowered the figure to $600,000 in the budget proposal Mayor John DeStefano Jr. submitted to the Board of Aldermen.

The overall budget request for the fire department is $24.2 million.

The Finance Committee conducts workshops and public hearings on the recommended spending plan and will recommend a final budget package and tax rate to the full board next month.

The budget will be adjusted later in the year to reflect state aid, which is expected to be significantly lower next year.

"We would love to have more personnel and more companies but we do recognize the city's financial status," Daniels said.

About 14 fire fighters attended the workshop out of concern that funding and fire apparatus would be cut next year.

But Finance Committee Chairman Philip Voigt, D-27, and Vice Chairman Andrea Jackson-Brooks, D-4, said they would meet with Acting Budget Director Frank Altieri about possibly increasing fire and police overtime allocations to a "more realistic figure."

The factors contributing to escalating fire overtime costs have been sick time abuse and lower staffing levels following retirements.

A minimum of 73 fire fighters work throughout the city per shift, Daniels said.

To hold the line on spending next year, 17 vacant positions are being eliminated from the fire department's budget and 15 of those were for fire fighters.

The Rev. Boise Kimber, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said he would like the aldermen to grant the original $1.2 million overtime request.

But Altieri did not know Tuesday what the source would be to beef up that line item.

Depending on how much state revenue New Haven receives, the city could face an $11 million shortfall, he said.

The city is eliminating vacant positions and offering an early retirement package to reduce salary expenses.

Police Chief Melvin H. Wearing said the police department would be eliminating 20 vacant positions, including slots for 12 officers, two captains and one lieutenant. Wearing also expects to lose non-sworn personnel through early retirements.

Police department overtime was reduced by $200,000 to $1 million for next year.

When Voigt asked Wearing if the department could handle overtime needs with $200,000 less, the chief said: "To be honest with you, it's going to be very difficult."

Angela Carter can be reached at 789-5614 or acarter@nhregister.com.