WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) – An agreement between the city's firefighter's union and administrators over pay cuts could keep firefighters on the job.

Fire chief Gary Buchburger says the union has agreed to a reduction in pay next year in order to keep the city from cutting jobs. The fire department had been told earlier this week that it may have to cut 2 to 4 positions to help balance a one and a half million dollar budget deficit.

Buchburger says a number of other concessions were made, including an agreement to freeze two open positions in the department.

Buchburger says the city hasn't told him to send out any layoff letters yet, and it's his hope to keep it that way.