The Wilmington City Council has failed to uphold budget cuts that would have sliced $511,000 from the city budget for eight vacant firefighter jobs.
The panel fell two votes short Tuesday night in effort to override Mayor Dennis Williams' veto of the cuts.
The vote ends nearly a month-long battle between the council, the mayor and the New Castle County Council.
City Council members who support the cuts have argued that no department will be overlooked as the city examines spending. But firefighters and others have contended the cuts would pose a public safety risk for the city.
Copyright The Associated Press