The City of Laredo is asking the firefighter and police unions to wait a couple of months for their pay increases.

The City Manager and a council member say the city doesn't have the money to pay the raises, even though they are in both unions' contracts.

"Under the current economic conditions unfortunately they will have the opportunity and the privilege of having that pay raise."

It's a privilege not given to every city employee.

Both unions already signed their bargaining agreement with the city before the economy took a downturn, but now City Councilman Mike Garza is asking both unions one thing: "If they can assist us in being able to figure out a way to be able to maybe differ some of that."

"The city of Laredo says they don't have 6.2 million dollars to pay for salary increases for both unions."

According to the contract both unions are supposed to get their pay raise on October first, but the city wants them to hold off for a couple of months.

"What that will do is free up enough money in our budget to be able to provide some pay raises for the rest of the employees."

According to City Manager Carlos Villarreal they will be no pay raises for any other city employees other than the firefighters and police officers.

"I think people have to understand, that the commitment I had was to make sure that people working for the city will not loose their jobs."

Even though the city has just submitted a balanced budget it's far less than last year's budget. One of the city's biggest moneymakers, bridge revenues, is down; making it more difficult to pay the salary increases negotiated by the unions.

"You have to balance job security with people getting an increase."

Neither the Firefighters Association President nor the Laredo Police Officers Association President wanted to comment on the issue.