The Milwaukee Fire Department plans to close a south side fire station in 2021, a reflection of the tough financial spot the city is in.
The decision follows the closure of six stations as part of the 2018 budget.
At this point, the "leading candidate" to be shuttered is Station 17 at 4653 S. 13th Street, Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing said.
That would bring the department down to29 fire stations. Doing so will allow for the elimination of 15 positions through attrition and save $1.8 million in salaries.
The department's 2021 budget as proposed by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is $121.6 million, an increase of $7.1 million over this year's budget.
The $7.1 million increase reflects a rise in the fringe benefit rate, meaning the funds couldn't be used to maintain the station.