NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- No longer receiving casino revenues, lawmakers in the city of Niagara Falls have struggled to close the budget gap. 

"I feel let down because the officers are going to be let down," said Bryan DalPorto, the Niagara Falls Police Chief.

Earlier in the year, an audit showed the city would be broke by the end of this year.

Down $12 million, the mayor's budget proposal cut operating costs by nearly 10% and relied on at least some of the city's 73 eligible professionals retiring, with five of those coming from the police department. Because of the collective bargaining agreement, those positions would come from the traffic and patrol divisions.

"We've had a constant decrease in crime over the years, and that's really because of those officers in police cars. And I've said all along, there's really no substitute for boots on the ground police work. It's really going to hinder our community relations department. If we don't have officers to send to events, we're just not going to be able to do it. And that's just paid huge dividends to this department over the years," said DalPorto.

Through the weeks, City Council made additional cuts, a number of which the mayor vetoed. In several four to one votes Thursday night, the council overrode many of them.

In the end, three positions will be cut from the police department.

"They haven't laid anyone off, but essentially, they've cut us by three positions. That's just the way it's being put to make it look like it's not that big of an impact, but it is," said DalPorto.

The council ended up halving the proposed tax increases. Business owners will now see about a seven percent jump, while homeowners will see a tax increase of less than one percent.