As the deadline nears for Phillips to present a preliminary budget to the City Council by Thursday, he said he's looking at every possibility to keep city services in place - including asking the council to approve a ballot issue addressing minimum manning in the fire department. One option Phillips assured he is not considering to balance the estimated $6.5 million deficit is more bond issues.
"We can't borrow any more money," Phillips said. "It's not a good tactic to bond your way out of debt. It puts you in a deeper hole. What we have to do is address the structural deficit, and one of those issues has to do with minimum manning. ... If we had the flexibility to organize in a manner that would benefit the city, Pontiac would be further ahead than we are now with minimum manning."
