The police department is considering eliminating positions to help balance the budget.
Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Platt says his township is facing an $8 million deficit.
The police and the township have been trying to reach a new contract, and police are asking for a 3-year deal with 4.5 percent raises in each year, plus extended health benefits for retirees.
Mayor Bernie Platt says it can't happen.
"I think the safety and the welfare of the residents is paramount, but we've come to a point now where if the police don't negotiate with us in order to make up this deficit, there will be layoffs," said Mayor Platt.
Without concessions, the police could lose up to 16 officers by July 1st. The FOP and PBA say that laying off police will adversely affect public safety.
"In the past two and a half years we've had three rounds of layoffs, but the police department hasn't been touched once," said Mayor Platt.
The department has already been reduced from 146 to 135 in the last years due to attrition.
The mayor says, even with layoffs, a small tax increase may be necessary. He also pointed out that non-union workers have already had their wages frozen.
