LEHIGH ACRES, Fl. - A one point nine million dollar shortfall.  That's what Lehigh Fire and Rescue leaders are facing going into this next budget year.

Friday night, commissioners adopted a roughly 24 million dollar budget.  They say because one of their grants mandates that they keep a certain amount of staff and trucks at all their stations, this deficit will not affect positions or services.    

"But that's also one of the reason why are expenditures are so high because of these stipulations... as personnel costs and trucks and services, nothing is going to change," says finance manager, Ben Van Klingeren. 

Lehigh Fire and Rescue is planning on dipping into reserve funds to balance their budget.  The final budget hearing will be on the 25th at 5pm at Station 104.