Ohio Mayor Fires Chief Over Budget

(AP) SHAKER HEIGHTS - The fire chief in an upscale Cleveland suburb has been dismissed for refusing the mayor's demand to cut his budget to help trim a city deficit.

Shaker Heights Fire Chief Donald Barnes plans to contest Monday's dismissal by Mayor Earl Leiken. The mayor had asked the chief to cut $250,000 from the fire department's $8.3 million budget as city departments trim costs to avoid a citywide deficit of $3.5 million.

Shaker Heights made budget cuts earlier this year, but the mayor says declining tax collections forced a new round of cuts. Starting this month, some Shaker Heights city employees will take every other Friday as unpaid days off.
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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com

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