Columbus firefighters who deferred pay raises to keep their jobs in 2009 could face layoffs in 2010 under a budget plan submitted yesterday by Chief Ned Pettus Jr.

The city would reduce its force of 1,511 firefighters by 19 percent, through 238 layoffs and 51 unfilled vacancies, if voters reject a proposed income-tax increase and Pettus' plan is adopted by Mayor Michael B. Coleman and the City Council.

In the past, elected officials have shifted money from other departments to avoid drastic layoffs in the Fire Division or Police Division, where Chief Walter L. Distelzweig has said that 324 officers' jobs are on the line in the Aug. 4 special election.

Even if the numbers change, Coleman spokesman Dan Williamson said, significant police and fire layoffs would be unavoidable if the city doesn't get more money.

Columbus faces a budget gap of at least $105 million next year, and officials are seeking voter approval to collect an estimated $90 million to $100 million more annually by raising the income-tax rate from 2 percent to 2.5 percent.

The higher rate would cost people who work in Columbus an additional $50 for every $10,000 in income. They currently pay $200 for every $10,000 they earn.

Pettus was told by Public Safety Director Mitchell J. Brown to suggest $18.9 million in cuts from the total needed to keep fire services intact for 2010. Distelzweig was told to identify $21.4 million in potential cuts.

Tax-increase opponents have dismissed warnings of police and fire cuts as scare tactics.

"Cuts in other areas absolutely should come first," said Bill Todd, a former mayoral candidate who is forming a campaign to fight the ballot proposal.

Pettus' plan would redirect firefighters from community-outreach, education and training programs to reduce the impact on fire and emergency-medical response.

But layoffs, based on seniority, would mean the city would lose 122 firefighters who also are trained paramedics. Response to life-threatening emergencies most certainly would be affected, Pettus said.

"The city's not going to shrink," he said. "If the size of our division shrinks that response time is going to suffer."

Jack Reall, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 67, said the impact of the proposed fire cuts would devastate the division. The police and fire unions have endorsed the tax increase.

"The public ought to take a look at it real close," Reall said of Pettus' proposal. "We are the best in the nation, and we are about to lose that."

rvitale@dispatch.com