Wangemann clarifies on air comments

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council's second hearing on its FY2011 tax increase budget did not draw any positive or negative public comments Thursday morning but there was a clarification from Councilman George Wangemann.

Wangemann said he wanted to clarify mis-information he gave out while on WDUN's Local Hour Monday on the fire department and the proposed tax increase. Wangemann said on the air that only fire fighters hired under a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Responder (SAFER) grant accepted last year by Council would go off unpaid furloughs.

City Manager Kip Padgett said the grant requires all firefighters are off furloughs. Accepting that grant brought on the point .26 tax hike.

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