FLINT, Mich. --
WNEM TV5 has learned Flint city leaders are preparing to hand out a large number of pink slips in an effort to battle the city's budget deficit.
Mayor Dayne Walling announced during his weekly press briefing that 57 police officers and 23 firefighters will get the notice Thursday.
The mayor said the layoff notices will go into effect in two weeks.
Walling also said one or two of Flint’s five remaining fire stations will close do to the cuts.
The reductions could leave Flint with only 65 firefighters on staff.
The move comes after weeks of contract concession negotiations with police and firefighter unions.
Union officials said the layoffs are a tragedy to the citizens in the city.
"You are eliminating police and fire; it's a tragedy,” said Raul Garcia, with the Flint firefighters union. “I live in the city of Flint, there's a lot of citizens that need to be concerned."
TV5 tried to contact Mayor Walling, but he has not returned our calls.
Just four days ago, four children died after a fire ripped through a Flint townhouse on the city’s north side.
Fire crew manpower and response times have been called into question in that incident.
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