The provincial budget has forced the Town of Gander to cut two new positions for its understaffed fire department and halted plans to bring in house legal counsel at the town office.

The chair of Gander's finance committee, Brian Dove, says the provincial budget made the town revisit its municipal spending plan to look for ways to save money.

"The biggest impact on the town of Gander was the two per cent increase in the HST," said Dove. "So that meant approximately $100,000 extra we'd be looking for in 2016."

Council made the decision to cut two new paid firefighter positions that were set to be filled in the fall.

"We hadn't planned on hiring them until this coming fall but we decided to not do that at all in 2016," said Dove.

Dove said that decision saved about $50,000.

Understaffed fire department

The town said it needs paid firefighters because of a lack of volunteers.

"We're struggling finding volunteers," said Dove. "We're probably 10, 15 short on volunteers."

The Gander Fire Department is down 10 to 15 volunteers according to Town of Gander Finance Chair Brian Dove. (Chris Ensing/CBC)

Dove said with that shortfall, and Gander's growing population, he understands that the town may one day need a fully paid fire department.

"We're very proud of our fire department. They're very well trained and they're great at what they do. So it's a tough decision when you do anything with those guys," said Dove.

The town also decided to scrap a plan to bring in house legal counsel.

"As most people know we've struggled with some tough decisions with the courts in the past year or so," said Dove.

The town most recently lost a court battle over snow clearing on commercial parking lots and a battle with Nav Canada over a tax issue.

Other shoe to drop

He's still concerned about the fall budget and how it may affect the town.

"That was the other thing I guess, we're waiting for the other shoe to drop. We don't know what this fall budget's going to bring and municipalities are finding it tough I would think."

Dove said in the past it was easier to prepare.

"Usually you don't have this second budget hanging over your head," said Dove, who hasn't heard when the next update will come.

"I'm assuming it's going to happen, maybe it won't happen. But it's a struggle."