As the Jersey shore city of Wildwood faces a $205 million drop in its ratable base, more than half of the city’s police force and five firefighters could be laid off soon.
Mayor Gary DeMarzo says 20 police officers and five firefighters have to be laid off to balance the $2 million gap in the city’s budget this year, reports the Cape May Herald.
The now 38-officer police force will go down to 18 officers only two months before the city’s most populous -- and popular -- season begins in the ocean-side city.
"I don't know how the mayor thinks he's going to protect the public with 16 officers," Attorney Danielle M. Pinkston, representing Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 7 said to the Press of Atlantic City.
"To put it bluntly, he's somewhat out of his mind," Pinkston said.
The total number of police officer may go down to 14 because of pending retirements, reports the Cape May Herald.
DeMarzo said that he’d rather cut city jobs than raise the tax rate. The city has until May to make its decision.
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