The Hialeah City Council approved a $263 million budget Wednesday night, laying off over 100 firefighters in the process.
Council members voted 7-0 in favor of the 2012 budget plan after a 90-minute debate, according to the Miami Herald.
Facing a deficit of over $13 million, cuts had to be made, and now the city's fire department will be losing about 40 percent of its force.
The cuts begin Saturday, when 14 firefighters and nine trainees will be let go. Another 12 vacant positions will be eliminated.
Major cuts will be made on Dec. 1 and March 1, when another 70 firefighters total will be dismissed.
"I am very proud of the work of the council in approving this balanced budget," Mayor Carlos Hernández told the Herald. "Most importantly, taxes are not raised for the residents of the great city of Hialeah."
Last week, Hernandez had warned of the cuts if the fire union couldn't agree to $4 million in concessions.
Fire union president Mario Pico said the cuts would "dramatically affect 911 response times and service."
