By JESSICA KERMAN

ANDERSON — In an effort to save money, the Anderson City Council unanimously approved early retirement programs for city workers and firefighters.

This follows actions taken in April to provide a similar program for the Police Department. The police and fire department agreements stipulate that a person must have 25 years of service to those individual departments to be eligible. The municipal workers buyout program requires only 10 years of service, which makes them vested in the Public Employees Retirement Fund.

However, the program worries some administrators in the Fire Department.

Deputy chiefs Dave Cravens and Jerry Burmeister spoke Thursday night about their concerns regarding the buyout program. The two voiced the same opinions at the April meeting of the City Council.

“We’re below minimum staffing on trucks now,” Cravens said. “I’m concerned about where this will put us.”

Burmeister said a new hire takes up to a year to train for the field, and the buyout could put the department at risk of being more understaffed than it already is.

“I have concerns for the summer with manpower issues,” Burmeister said. “I applaud the city on what they’re trying to do.”

With more than $6 million being cut from the city’s budget in the next two years because of the property tax reform act that the Indiana General Assembly passed this year, funds for employment will be scarce.

“But I also have concerns for the public,” Burmeister said.

Cravens said he was told the city would replace the men who choose to participate in the early buyout program, “but I know that might not happen,” he said.

If the department loses too many people, it could be forced to close a station, he said.

Councilman Rick Muir, D-at large, said he understood the men’s concerns.

“My own personal view is, I understand your concerns and fears,” he said. “As a councilman, I will be supporting measures to make up losses in revenues.”