London mayor says he’ll be forced to fire the entire fire department come 2026

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Uncertainty continues to loom in London, as a newly passed ordinance reportedly puts 51 city employee positions in jeopardy.

It’ll repeal the existing pay and classification plan for city employees, implement a scale based on years of experience, and potentially restructure departments. The ordinance was passed in a special-called meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19, after weeks of back-and-forth between the council and the mayor.

“Again, you’re passing an ordinance that is not balanced. We’ve given you physical proof from the ledger. It is busted. If this ordinance goes through the way that it is, I will have to lay off the entire fire department, and that is not embellishing,” Mayor Randall Weddle said in Tuesday’s meeting.

The evening before the meeting, the mayor proposed what he noted was a “balanced budget.” He emphasized that it wouldn’t eliminate any city employee’s jobs.

The council argues that the changes are necessary because the city can’t sustain its operations financially as is.

“Each year, our independent audit reports the same issues: 1. We do not have enough employees to meet operational needs, and 2. We do have to carry too many job responsibilities and titles,” the letter to the city council read. “I fully understand that all staffing decisions must align with our budget. However, it is also true that the fundamental purpose of local government is to provide essential services to the residents of London and Laurel County. Without adequate staffing, especially in fire, police, rescue, and public works, our citizens bear the consequences. Insufficient personnel mean slower response times, increased strain on current employees, and reduced quality of the services our residents expect and deserve.”

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“You gave it to us yesterday. There’s no way we can do our due diligence and in a matter of less than 24 hours, and you know that,” Councilman Judd Weaver said in the special-called meeting.

Weddle told FOX 56 that the fire department funding doesn’t account for the money that’s already been spent, which amounts to around $442,000. He said that’s about double what’s allotted in the council’s budget.

Beyond the fire department, the mayor said the following positions will also be impacted if the council doesn’t make any amendments to the budget:

15 public works employees, 2 additional after the fiscal year
Eliminate pay for the rescue squad chief and assistant chief

London mayor says he’ll be forced to fire the entire fire department come 2026

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