The Downers Grove Fire Department will continue to serve the community down three firefighters next year as a cost-savings measure, according to the proposed 2009 budget.

Village commissioners and staff held a public workshop Saturday to discuss the proposed 2009 budget which Village Manager David Fieldman noted includes a balanced $42 million general fund. This fund is the budget’s largest and is used to pay for employees salaries, which is more than 70 percent of the entire budget for 2009.

The total budget includes 25 funds and does show a $13 million deficit between expenses and revenues in 2009. However, Fieldman said all but one of those funds have a large enough cash reserve to finish 2009 in the black.

Fieldman said some village funds have been racking up savings over a period of time, such as the Ogden Avenue tax increment financing fund, and the village will be dipping into those funds in 2009 to complete capital projects.

The transportation fund does reflect a $2 million deficit. During the meeting, staff and council discussed costs of the village’s busing system, which doesn’t support itself alone from user fees and gas tax. Commissioners agreed that although ridership is increasing with the implementation of several new fuel efficient buses, marketing the commuter shuttles should increase next year.

“With attention being paid to the local economy and market it’s critical we produce a balanced budget in the general fund,” Fieldman said. “We were able to do that because of cost saving measures we put in place including non-personnel expenses down by $1.4 million.”

The meeting highlighted the eight planned vacancies for next year including some emergency personnel.

Fire Chief Phil Ruscetti said over the past year three firefighters left the department and have not been replaced. The department will continue to carry out services with 72 firefighters and some changes to how various calls are responded to.

“It’s better than laying them off,” Ruscetti said. “I think this is our part of what we can do to hold down costs. It should be seamless. People probably won’t notice (the change.)”

Ruscetti said 24 firefighters are now assigned to each of the three 24-hour shifts. The type of call that comes in will determine what kind of equipment will respond, which intends to reduce the amount of gas used and wear and tear on vehicles not necessary at the scene. Ruscetti said this plan has been in place since September and is working.

“This is a proactive, very well thought out and creative solution,” Village Commissioner Martin Tully said. “It’s taking advantage of the vacancies you have already demonstrated are working.”

Other vacant positions that are not planned to be filled next year include the deputy village manager, a secretary in public works, a building inspector, a media assistant and an information services trainer. The cost savings is projected at $580,000.

Fieldman said other highlights of the budget is an expected decrease in residents’ property tax rates from .46 to .44 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation.

A portion of Saturday’s workshop was spent discussing the village’s fleet of vehicles. The proposed budget calls for the decrease of 10 cars, which will be replaced with fuel efficient vehicles. Currently, 40 percent of the village’s fleet use alternative fuels.

To view the proposed budget, visit www.downers.us.