The Peachtree City Council will decide Thursday night whether to accept a $650,000 grant that will help fund six additional full-time firefighters over a five-year period.

Although the city expects to be on the hook for only $50,238 in the first year, the city “match” to the grant escalates each year. The grant would require committing a total of roughly $1 million from the city’s budget over the next five years.

Because of the tight budget this year, city officials are proposing to make cuts in the fire department to get the $50,000 match needed for the first year.

Among the cuts are a delay in a number of purchases, including dive team and water rescue equipment, firefighting foam, station cleaning supplies and more.

Also the department is diverting money from professional services including funds for drug screening, medical physicals and vaccines in addition to foregoing several training conferences.

The six firefighters would add two firefighters per shift for a total of 19 firefighters at all four fire stations.

Council will also hold a public hearing on raising the city’s millage rate by .244 mills. Doing so would add $24.40 to the property tax bill for a home with a fair market value of $250,000.

Two other public hearings are scheduled on the millage rate: one for Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. and the other Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

The City Council’s regular meeting convenes at 7 p.m. at City Hall.