Mayor Jean Stothert is not backing down in the ongoing dispute over part of her proposed 2014 budget.
Finance officials briefed the City Council Wednesday on the budget that, in part, sparked a firefighters' union lawsuit.
"I reached out to them, invited them here, asked them to work with me, and it was their choice not to. It was their choice to say, 'We're going to sue the city and the taxpayers,'" said Stothert.
The legal challenge, filed the same day the mayor delivered her 2014 budget plan to the council, claims that the plan's call for layoffs, idled trucks, and demotions violates the union contract. Stothert balked at the lawsuit and its assertion that the city's backing off on abiding by a National Fire Protection Association rule.
"The budget process will continue," said Stothert.
Stothert said the lawsuit is unfortunate, but she's still willing to work with the union and the fire department on a different budgetary solution.
"It's always better to negotiate than to litigate," said Stothert.
City Council members said they were hopeful both sides could come to an agreement soon and avoid future legal entanglements. Council President Pete Festersen said he and his colleagues are monitoring the situation.
"We hope that dispute can be resolved because it's not productive to the situation going forward," said Festersen.
Festersen said the 2014 budget process, already fully in the council's hands, is moving ahead.
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