JOHNSTON - The town's police officers and many of its municipal workers have made concessions that will ease financial pressures on the taxpayers, officials said yesterday.

Without the unions' help, the town would have been responsible for budgeting an extra $349,000 to pay for contractually mandated raises and other provisions during the fiscal year that starts July 1, according to Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, who is shepherding an effort to cut costs and eliminate more than $7 million in debt over the next several years.

Polisena had reached out to the unions and asked them to give up pay raises in light of the town's dire economic situation.

"They have truly stepped up to the plate to help our town and the taxpayers," Polisena said at a Town Hall news conference. "Today, I say to our residents, 'When you see a police officer, when you come into the building and see municipal workers, thank them.'"

The municipal workers agreed to give up a 2.9-percent raise this fiscal year - an expense of about $171,000 - and accepted 1.5-percent raises in the final two years of their newly extended contract. Meanwhile, each police officer ceded $2,250 in allowances that pay for new uniforms, cleaning for uniforms, and various firearms expenses.

In turn, the town agreed to lend the unions some additional stability and security by extending their contracts another two years.

Polisena did not have the same glowing comments for the firefighters' union, which wanted various accommodations in addition to a one-year contract extension.

"Quite frankly," he said, "I didn't think we could afford their offer."

"If you don't have it," Polisena added, "you can't spend it."

The late afternoon news conference was the stage for a rare occurrence: unions retroactively giving up pay raises and other benefits. Members of the Town Council joined Polisena as officials from both unions signed the agreements.

"This is truly, truly a special occasion for our town," Council President Robert V. Russo said.

Council members, including Gabriel N. DeFeo, thanked the unions for helping out.

Russo chided the firefighters' union with an old adage.

"Pigs get fat and hogs go to slaughter," he said, emphasizing that he believes the union's leaders didn't properly convey the town's financial situation to the membership. The union has 87 members.

The firefighters union's president, Capt. Joseph A. Andrioli, declined to identify the various accommodations that firefighters wanted the town to extend in addition to the one-year contract extension. He stressed that the proposal had been "very reasonable" and the firefighters had been willing to give up their pay raises.

He said the union's offer conceded more than $176,000 in raises during the next fiscal year.

In turn, the firefighters also asked for the contract and for the accommodations, which Polisena also declined to discuss.

"It was definitely a very reasonable proposal," Andriole said.

Said Russo: "Every time you come to the table you can't always come to fill your stomach."

Polisena said he will look over the Fire Department's budget with an eye for budget cuts that will help the town afford the firefighters' raises. Officials still have time for such cuts as they plan the budget for the next fiscal year.

The mayor has given a draft budget to the Town Council and sought feedback on it. But he has not released it to the public as of yet.

Yesterday, he accused his predecessor, former Mayor William R. Macera, of giving out contracts without developing the necessary budget plans to finance employee pay raises and other benefits.

"He had a plan," Polisena said. "It was out of the taxpayers' pocket. At this point and time, I'm looking at every option that I can save."

mreynold@projo.com / (401) 277-7490