City commissioners gave preliminary approval Monday to spend $2.1 million this year to replace worn fire engines, despite receiving more tough financial news about the 2009 city budget.

At a city budget session, commissioners directed City Manager David Corliss to place bids for two new quint fire engines and a technical rescue vehicle on the commission’s agenda for approval.

Commissioners decided to move ahead on the fire truck purchases after Corliss presented numbers showing that the city could afford to do so this year without creating the need for a future tax increase. Fire Chief Mark Bradford has told commissioners that the current equipment is so worn that it frequently needs major repairs and could create reliability questions in the future.

“I agree with the chief’s assessment that this needs to be a top priority,” Corliss said.

But Corliss told commissioners that he has not figured out a way to move forward with $2.3 million worth of new fire truck purchases that Bradford is requesting in 2009. Corliss said the $2.3 million request would require either a tax increase or a reduction in services elsewhere. Commissioners did not express support for either one of those options.

In other budget news:

¢ Commissioners were told that providing a wage increase to city employees likely will require either a tax increase or a reduction in services. Corliss, though, said he intends to recommend at least some level of cost-of-living increase for the city’s approximately 1,200 employees. He hasn’t announced how he plans to pay for it.

“But particularly in times of growing costs and rising fuel costs, I think if we do not move wages up it will be difficult to attract and retain employees,” Corliss said. “They are the ones that get the work done, and they are being asked to do more.”

¢ Corliss said his recommended budget – which he’ll release in early July – likely will include eliminating 10 city positions that currently are vacant. Those positions include a land-use planner, two zoning enforcement officers, human relations staff attorney, and a municipal court clerk. The cuts are expected to save about $500,000.

Corliss said he is not contemplating eliminating any positions that are currently filled.

¢ Corliss also is taking a more conservative approach in budgeting for future sales tax growth. Corliss is recommending that the 2009 budget be built on a projection of 2 percent growth in the city’s sales tax revenues.

Thus far, sales tax growth in 2008 is near 6 percent, but commissioners told Corliss to remain conservative in his projections for 2009.

“I think this is a year we would rather be safe than sorry,” City Commissioner Mike Amyx said.

Commissioners continue to budget for no increase in property tax revenues in 2009.