FREDONIA — The Fredonia Village Board is beginning to take a close look at Mayor Athanasia Landis’ budget — one that is roughly $836,000 in the hole.

Trustees convened at village hall on for its first budget workshop as they went over the fire department’s budget with Chief Ryan Walker. Overall, the mayor’s budget shows the fire protection budget totaling just over $960,000. Of that amount, $646,000 is directly related to personnel costs. Overtime within the department is budgeted at $107,000.

Sifting line by line, trustees managed to find some savings in some areas. A lengthy discussion ensued over two part-time firefighters within the budget and whether that should be cut down to one. Walker budgeted three part-timers in his own budget proposal for relief purposes and to assist with transporting.

Walker noted that transports are averaging 65 a month. In the month of February, the department had 81 transports.

“We’re about 50 for the month,” Walker said. “We’re looking at 800 transports next year alone.”

The budget also includes a lieutenant position, which would be a promotion within the department. No definitive decision was made by the board over lieutenant position and going with two part-timers or cutting it to one.

Trustees will meet again Monday at 5 p.m. when to review the budget of the streets’ department.

Village Administrator Richard St. George noted during budget discussions that the focus has to be on the deficit that the budget reflects.

“It’s pretty big,” he said. “It can’t float like this. It’s way too big and it can’t go through like that.”

Trustee Doug Essek said the village is using its savings for day-to-day operations. Essek said that savings is almost gone. The mayor stated that the board has the option to raise taxes. Trustee Roger Britz. Jr. said the board needs to keep nipping at the deficit.

“We only just started,” he said.

Landis said the other thing trustees have to think about is how to raise revenues.

“Cutting totally isn’t going to do it,” Landis said.

Essek said he’d love to raise revenue, but tax assessed value has gone down by $77,000.

“We’re losing it and we’re spending more,” he said.

Trustee Michael C. Barris said making infrastructure more efficient is key that will reduce emergency repair costs and might reduce ambulance calls the fire department makes.

“If you have an efficient society where infrastructure is efficient, and the people are cooperative and appreciate it, the accident rate will decrease, the sickness rate will decrease,” he said.

Trustee James Lynden said the village has to find revenues, but it’s tough with the cost of business continuing to increase.