NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV (FOX5) -
North Las Vegas police officers are facing massive layoffs, and firefighters could be next.
It's the latest development in what has become a showdown between public safety unions and the city of North Las Vegas.
City Manager Timothy Hacker is laying the cards on the table, saying that if three unions representing police and firefighters in North Las Vegas don't come to an agreement on concessions, they should get ready for a devastating round of layoffs.
Hacker met with the media Monday afternoon and announced that three unions - the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Association and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1607 - have rejected a plan to extend a salary freeze.
That claim by Hacker is something North Las Vegas Police Supervisors Association President Leonard Cardinale denies.
"We didn't reject any offer," Cardinale said. "We haven't even gotten financial information yet. That's what we're waiting for."
A city budget is due to the state by June 1, and that budget is currently facing a projected $33 million shortfall.
"We have always tried to be part of the solution, and that's all we were trying to do today," said Capt. Jeff Hurley with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1607.
Hurley told FOX5 his firefighters want to separate from the city altogether and be governed by any other municipality in southern Nevada.
"At this time, the firefighters no longer have faith in city management - that they can adequately direct this fire department anymore," said Hurley.
While the exact number of layoffs has not been determined, Hurley believes as many as 57 firefighters - one-third of his department - could be cut.
Hacker said he's more open to an arrangement that consolidation with another fire department.
"Basically (I'd like to) set forth how we're going to operate jointly, and then in the future if one party or another wanted to retract from that arrangement, then you would already have those terms set up," Hacker explained.
Union leaders believe there is still time to come to an agreement.
"The (accusation) that we would not meet with them again or rejected the offer is simply not true," said North Las Vegas Police Officers Association President Michael Yarter.
City leaders say they asked the unions to agree to pay freeze extensions and to eliminate a program which allows union members to turn in unused days off for money.
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