EAST CHICAGO | Six empty firefighter positions in the city likely will not be filled any time soon.

The Board of Public Works and Safety has declined to take action on a request from Fire Chief Val Gomez to bring the department back to full staff.

Six new recruits have passed their physicals are only waiting for approval from the state Public Employee Retirement Fund, Gomez said, to replace firefighters who retired last year.

But Charles Pacurar, city controller and president of the safety board, said the city has to wait before taking on any new hires to make sure they can be afforded.

Property tax caps which go into effect next year will trim city receipts by as much as $18 million -- close to a third of this year's budget -- and the administration is looking for ways to cut costs without cutting essential services.

Pacurar said Mayor George Pabey should announce his plan sometime this month for weathering the imminent budget reduction.