Wake County's budget crunch is expected to have an impact on services for residents, including the county's Emergency Medical Services.

Wake's EMS is propping cuts that include a hiring freeze, relying on more part-time and volunteer workers and eliminating one ambulance from its rotation.

All county departments were asked to cut four percent from their budgets for this year, and those submissions were made last month to County Manager David Cooke.

Cooke said that he will review those submissions and make recommendations on what should be cut to the Board of Commissioners sometime this month.

"We were not able to reach a full four percent without directly impacting day-to-day EMS service," said Wake County EMS Director Brent Myers.

Myers said one ambulance could possibly be taken off the streets, which would happen on a rotational basis out of the county's six agencies, so one area would not be disproportionately impacted.

Altogether, Wake's EMS submitted cuts totaling $722,940, the fifth-highest behind Human Services, Sheriff's Department, General Services Administration and Community Services.

Myers said some of the savings comes from smaller cuts like eliminating food purchases for some community meetings.

The Board of Commissioners will meet Monday to receive an update on the county's finances from Cooke.

The county is facing at least a $17 million budget shortfall.

Cooke said much of the savings will come from departments not filling vacant positions and that the cuts should be able to be done without layoffs.