ANDERSON, Ind. (AP) — Hundreds of people joined in a protest of proposed cuts to the number of police officers and firefighters in a central Indiana city.

Many protesters joined a picket outside the Anderson City Hall ahead of a City Council meeting Thursday night during which the standing-room crowd applauded people who spoke against the cuts.

The Herald Bulletin reports that Deputy Mayor Pete Heuer told council members the proposal to cut seven police officer and 20 firefighter positions was needed because of tax revenue declines with public safety spending taking up 70 percent of the city's budget.

Residents say they worried the cuts would make the city less safe.

The council is expected to vote on the budget plan later this month.