Budget Committee To Discuss Firefighters Settlement Next Week

by Gabe BullardLouisville Metro Government still owes more than 30 million dollars in back pay to firefighters. The money will be distributed in two installments, but there's still not a plan for financing the payments.Mayor Jerry Abramson's administration would rather use bonds to pay the firefighters for miscalculated overtime, but that would require the city to take on additional debt. Several council members want to tap the city's rainy day fund to make the payments, but that could hurt the city's credit rating.Mayor's spokesperson Chris Poynter says Metro Budget Director Jane Driskell and financial experts will present the ramifications of both options to the council's budget committee next week."We're very hopeful, you know, Jane comes to the council next week with these experts, that we'll have a resolution," he says.Poynter wouldn't say whether legislation for making the payments has already been drafted. But the first of two remaining payments to the firefighters is due at the end of the month, so a financing plan will have to pass the council on or before the March 25^th meeting.