MILWAUKEE - There's no question the 2010 budget was the toughest the Milwaukee Common Council ever faced. It required major cuts and higher taxes.

One of the most heated debates among council members was public safety.

Under the new budget, there will be four firefighters on ladder trucks instead of five.

Alderman Bob Donovan proposed increasing overnight parking permit fees by a dollar to save one of two fire companies scheduled to close and to reduce police department furloughs from four days to one.

A majority of aldermen thought the parking permit increase was a good alternative.

Fire department union members were pleased to hear a company was saved.

As for property taxes, the spending plan calls for a 4.4 percent increase.