Calera, AL - "This was not an easy thing to come up with," said one Calera City Council member, but after an almost two-hour work session, the Council had a plan. The plan includes a five-percent reduction in pay for salaried employees and firefighters. All other hourly employees will also make five-percent less but reducing their hours to 38 hours a week.

"As long as they can get 38 hours a week, they should be able to keep their bills paid and do what they've got to do. Even if it's a five-percent cut," says Mayor George Roy.

It could have been a lot worse. The Council had considered cutting hours by a whopping 20%, and earlier this week massive layoffs were not out of the question.

"Nobody got laid off," says a relieved Bob Williams, Water Superintendent. "Everybody will be able to keep their income. Not quite to what it was, but it's a possibility as the economy improves we might get back what we lost tonight."

The Council promises there will not be a reduction in services; however, Calera residents will notice changes. Employees will park their city vehicles; the city will no longer spray for mosquitoes; city inmates, and not a private company, will do the street sweeping when necessary; and portable toilets in the parks will be pulled.

These are just a few cuts, but altogether the city could save $625,000 through the rest of the fiscal year.

"We're not out of the woods yet," says Shane Stoudenmire, president of the Firefighter Association, "but we've definitely found a trail, so that's a plus."

The budget amendment also combines the on-call schedules for Public Works and Building Maintenance. They will spend less money on fertilizing costs, and the city will give up two postage meters and the time clock system currently in use.

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