BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — An arbitrator has handed down a ruling between the Altoona Firefighters Union IAFF Local 299 and the city.

This comes after months without a contract. The city manager said the minimum staffing levels will drop from 13 to 11. The arbitrator also awarded a four-year deal in which firefighters will receive a 3.5 percent raise during this year followed by a four percent increase in each of the next three years.

There will also be a longevity increase, similar to city police.

After their contract expired at the end of 2021, negotiations through arbitration began in February.