The city of Plano plans to eliminate 50 vacant positions to help close a projected budget shortfall, city officials said today.

Administrators say the cuts, which involve cutting 43 full-time jobs and 7 part-time positions, could save the city as much as $3.1 million annually.

Those cuts include trimming from police and fire services. At a special session this evening, the Plano City Council is expected to approve the elimination of 11 police officers and six firefighters. Cutting civil service positions, like in the police and fire departments, requires council action.

None of the positions being cut are currently filled, and city officials stressed that citizens will witness no immediate impact in services.

Still, the cuts mark the latest dark cloud for a city that, like many communities in the area, is being squeezed by high fuel costs, a rough housing market and other forces.

Plano, which is required to pass a new budget by September, faces an estimated $17 million gap. That gap will eventually widen in future years unless the city acts.

The City Council has already discussed a menu of options, including raising property taxes for the second time in three years. But they have yet to take action on any plan. The council is scheduled to hold budget hearings next month.