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ALBANY ,GA --
City commissioners heard budget proposals from select departments Tuesday.

Of those, the Albany Fire Department says they have cut their budget substantially.

Fire Chief James Carswell says factoring in the 2% cost of living adjustment last year and reduction of personnel as well as reduction of $102,000 in overtime, they are operating by $123,000 under budget.

“We were reduced in certain amount of salary accounts because of anticipation of vacant positions so we started with a lesser amount than we actually could have been budgeted for,” says Carswell.

The fire department's overall budget for the city and county is $12.5 million.