Police in Methuen, Massachusetts, have avoided layoffs after a city council vote.
The Eagle Tribune reported that Methuen Mayor James Jajuga was threatening layoffs at the police department if councilors shot down his proposals to bridge overspending, requiring the transfer of $577,957 from other department expenses and the city's free cash account to help fund payroll.
With a 5-1 vote, the measure passed at a Tuesday night meeting.
Earlier this year, the same city council voted to restore $1.2 million to the department's budget. More than four dozen officers who had received pink slips learned they would be able to keep their jobs.
City counselors had argued that the police contract and raises for captains were just too high, topping out at $250,000 for some.
