Springfield aldermen Thursday heard budget requests from the police chief and the fire chief.

Ald. Lakeisha Purchase asked budget director Ramona Metzger how the city will be able to make payroll with all the new hires. After a long pause, Metzger said, “We can adjust the cash flow, and we can look at doing borrowings.:

Ald. Erin Conley praised fire chief Ed Canny for asking for the amount of overtime he believes will be used, as opposed to previous chiefs submitting a low amount for overtime, only to ask for more during the year.

And police chief Ken Scarlette (pictured) wants fifteen more officers, partly in anticipation of a wave of retirements. He said all other categories show a decrease from the current year to account for the expanded payroll. He emphasized that the entire department’s budget request is 0.3 percent more for FY 25 than for FY 24.

The budget takes effect March 1. Between now and then, aldermen will submit their ideas.