DUDLEY, Mass. - The town of Dudley is facing public safety cuts amid a budget crunch, and there was a show of solidarity Monday night before the Board of Selectmen meeting.

Organizers are pushing to have a ballot question proposed to taxpayers to reinstate public safety and town services.

Dudley’s FY-24 budget was approved on May 22, but the assessment from the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District created an $867,000 gap between projected costs and the budget voters agreed to. Fire Chief Dean Kochanowski said it will create staffing cuts.

Dudley Fire Captain and union president Steven Chenard said it's important to understand how these cuts to the department will impact the community.

"We are going to be dropping down to a two-person shift every day of the week, which only staffs one truck,” Chenard said. “If we have two emergencies at the same time, we are not going to be able to staff those two trucks. A simple car accident involves an engine and an ambulance. We'll only be able to staff an ambulance and rely on mutual engine company, and that’s if a mutual aid is even available at that point.

“Unsafe staffing, and there's stuff that comes through as far as overtime. If a guy calls out sick, we don't believe we will be able to fill that position, dropping us down to a one-man shift."

Chenard said they'll also have to eliminate their entire call department and all their per diem staffing who supplement the operation of the department.