Greenville firefighters voted to join Greenville sewer workers in agreeing to a wage freeze this year in an effort to rescue the borough from a deficit budget.

"But there are conditions," said Ed Cooper, vice president of Local 1976 International Association of Fire Fighters.

During a council agenda meeting Thursday, Cooper said the firefighters voted, 4-1, to accept the freeze for no more than one year, if all other borough employees also accept a wage freeze.

Also, if borough employees are being asked to make economic sacrifices, council members and the mayor should also suffer sacrifices by relinquishing their part-time monthly pay, Cooper said.

Firefighters also insist that the force of seven full-time firefighters be maintained. If not, firefighters will demand their negotiated salary increases, Cooper said. Firefighters and council tentatively agreed to a $1,250 annual salary increase, but council has yet to ratify the contract.

Council members and Mayor Clifford Harriger did not respond to the idea of relinquishing their salaries. Council members make $1,500 a year and the mayor, $2,000.

Greenville sewer workers on Monday agreed to a one-year wage freeze.

Council has yet to hear from Greenville-West Salem Township policemen, street maintenance workers, or office staff on its requests for wage freezes.

On Monday, council adopted a $3.17 million budget with a 1.25-mill, or 4.6 percent, property tax increase. In doing so, council admitted that spending exceed revenues, but it could not raises property taxes more because of the 5 percent tax increase limit imposed with the change of property assessment.

Incoming councilmen Pete Longiotti and David Henderson are expected to re-open the budget. The new council will have until Feb. 15 to make cuts that will balance the budget.