The city is facing some hefty cuts -- possibly to the tune of 21 million dollars -- due to a loss of property tax revenue.

It appears no department will emerge unscathed. Police and fire are no exception.

At a budget hearing Wednesday afternoon, department heads told the common council about personnel cuts that may be necessary.

As it stands now, city leaders say 53 firefighters and 40 police officers have to go.

That would slash both departments' budgets by more than four million dollars.

Department leaders warn, beyond personnel cuts, the tight budget could mean almost 40 school crossing-guard positions will be cut, paramedics may be on short supply, and one or more fire stations may have to close.

In the face of these cuts, the police administration fears what it could mean for their men and women out on the streets.

"It takes 66 to run a shift, and you're loosing 53. You do the math on that. That is difficult," South Bend Fire Chief Howard Buchanon tells NewsCenter 16.

"We have a lot of officers out on different units, family violence units, metro homicide. We may have to wheel all those officers back in just so we can provide safety for our streets, and then we lose those services," Police Chief Darryl Boykins says.

Right now, the local option income tax is the only option on the table for raising revenue.

For that to happen, two of the three major councils in the county -- St. Joseph, Mishawaka, and/or South Bend -- would have to approve the hike.