PIKE COUNTY, Ill. (WGEM) - With a seven-figure budget deficit, the Pike County Board held discussions over what cuts they can make to the budget.

A week after fierce debates broke out in a public tax increase hearing, the Pike County Board met once again to discuss their budget.

County Chairman Rita Hoskin confirmed the total deficit was $1.8 million. When the floor opened for discussion, Vice-Chairman Tom Lewis questioned a $350,000 proposed cut to the ambulance department.

“If you take $350,000 out of [the ambulance department] budget, [the department] will be broke if an incident that causes us to lose the other $250,000 we might have had saved,” Lewis said.

Ambulance workers were present at the meeting and listened on as Lewis described potentially having to fire employees.

“We’re

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