Right to be EDIT-ed

To avoid layoff and reduction of services, New Albany's fire and police union leaders are asking city officials to consider supplementing public safety budgets with funding sources beyond property taxes. The police and fire departments account for about 85 percent of the general fund budget, but neither has a 2009 contract -- a fire deal is being negotiated that would include no pay increases for the year according to Robert Mann, president of the New Albany fire union. As for 2010, England said last week he would close one of the city's five firehouses to balance the budget if necessary; the police and fire departments were over their 2009 budgets, and property tax receipts aren't going to cover expenses as they stand for public safety, England said