Fort Worth's city manager presented a plan Tuesday to slash $73 million from the city budget which included cutting 203 city jobs, closing all public pools and shutting three libraries.
The plan does not call for a tax increase.
Of the 203 job cuts, 87 positions are currently filled. The others are vacant positions which will be eliminated.
Public safety, which has been largely untouched in past cutbacks, would be trimmed as well. The plan presented by city manager Dale Fisseler would freeze 40 vacant police positions and eliminate 39 vacant firefighter jobs.
The cuts in the fire department would do away with five fire companies, which fire department officials warned could reduce response times in some cases. It also could lead to hikes in some home insurance rates.
The city would also reduce mowing private property which is in violation of city code.
The libraries that would be closed are the Meadowbrook, Northside and Ridglea branches.
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Community centers, which had been on the chopping block, would remain open under Fisseler's proposal.
"There's a big hill in front of us," said Mayor Mike Moncrief. "This is a tough time for our city."
The city council will hold public hearings before adopting the new budget on Sept. 14.
