The two sides have reached a new tentative deal, one week after union members rejected an earlier one by a 2-to-1 margin.
 
But union spokesman Chris Harvey says he doesn’t think fire fighters are very excited about this deal either.
 
Harvey: “We were still hoping the city would offer more than one year of layoff protection in this new deal, but it sounds like this is their last, best and final offer, and we’re gonna bring this back to our membership for a vote.” 
  
City officials have said a new contract would allow Sacramento to leave the fire department’s current service levels intact – despite the city’s budget crisis.  In exchange, union members would give up their cost-of-living increases this year.
 
The fire fighters union, Local 522, will vote on the deal sometime next week.  Meanwhile, the city council could approve its new budget as soon as Tuesday night.