Butler, like many cities, is facing a financial crisis. Up against legal taxing limits and with weak economic growth, Butler must focus on the costs side of the ledger to balance its budget. Without new development or new jobs, there is no avoiding cost cutting. Borrowing more money is how the city has been getting by in recent years, but that cannot go on much longer.

While every expenditure should be examined, it's natural to look at the most costly line items for the significant cost savings that are needed here. That's why a front-page article last month examined the city's firefighting costs compared with other cities in the region with similar populations — Sharon, Hermitage and Greensburg.

Sharon has a full-time fire department, but spends $1.1 million, or about 14 percent, of its $7.86 million budget on fire protection. In Butler, the fire department will cost taxpayers $1.64 million in 2010, which is 24 percent of the city's budget.

Hermitage employs four paid firefighters who are assisted by volunteers to serve the city of 16,300 people. Hermitage will spend just $440,000, or 4 percent of its $11 million budget, on fire protection this year.

In Greensburg, the city pays for the upkeep of six fire stations and buys all the equipment, but the force of 340 firefighters is volunteer, not paid city employees with health care and pension costs.

These comparisons are meant to be a starting point for discussions about what to do in Butler. Doing nothing is not an option, although the city council for the past five years has acted like it was.

Butler has been facing serious financial troubles since at least 2004. When former city clerk Bob Brehm spoke to the city council July 22, he outlined his concerns and made points he first made in a January presentation to the council.

Both presentations got pretty much the same reaction from this council: Ho-hum. That's not the reaction that taxpayers, both residents and businesses, in the city need to hear.

Brehm warned that the city routinely spends more than it takes in through taxes. He described the city's apparent survival strategy as "borrow-and-spend and tax-and-spend." But there are limits to such a plan, and those limits are fast approaching.

Something has to give. Costs have to be reduced in a significant way.

Though it might be unpopular and controversial, a logical place to look is where most of the city's spending is directed. And for most cities, Butler included, that means public safety.

While public safety services are the most important things that a city government provides, if it becomes unaffordable in its present form, something must change.

In Jackson, Mich., a city of more than 35,000, former fire chief Don Braunreiter wrote an editorial column in the local newspaper suggesting ways to save the city money. He proposed moving to a combination fire department, using both paid and volunteers who could be paid when on call.

Arguing that a combination fire department with both paid and volunteer firefighters was the best solution for that city's struggling finances, Braunreiter challenged the city's leaders to make changes for the good of city residents and the city's future.

Though it was unsaid, he also challenged other citizens to come up with a better plan.

In the comments section on the newspaper's website, one reader suggested everyone just stand by their house with a garden hose. Clearly, this was not a serious contribution to solving the city's financial problems.

Another person suggested if firefighting should be done by volunteers, even just part of the city's force, then everyone in the city should be a volunteer — doctors, nurses, teachers, judges, mailmen, waitresses, salespeople. Again, not a serious contribution.

In Butler, it's time for some serious discussions about controlling costs and giving this once vital and proud city a better future than it now faces.

Talking about blending paid and volunteer firefighters might be seen by some as controversial, but it is being done elsewhere. Butler residents and elected officials should learn more about how it works.

Some people will take the suggestion as a personal attack on firefighters. It is not, and the discussion should not be allowed to be characterized that way.

It's simply a matter of facing reality. Every serious analysis of Butler's budget and spending patterns reveals that the city can no longer afford the same fire department structure that it had 40, 30 or even 20 years ago.

This is about Butler's future, and everyone concerned with that needs to be involved.