Police, fire overspending tightens NA budget pinch

Unaccounted for salaries add nearly $1 million to city's budget shortfall. Five new police officers won't be hired in 2009, as the $500,00 appropriated from Economic Development Income Tax funds earlier this year will likely go toward digging the city out of the financial hole. The city treasurer suggested the council move about $713,000 in fire and police salaries owed for 2009 from the general to the rainy day fund; another $100,000 will be cut from eight other departments dependent on the general fund to account for the $813,376 shortfall for 2009