LAKE MARY -- Seminole County's new commission chairman wants to ease a looming financial crunch by combining city and county fire departments. But some city leaders -- who aren't eager to lose control over vital services -- warn consolidation could end up costing taxpayers money.

Chairman Carlton Henley said Friday that the county needs to expand its jail and library systems, which could cost nearly $100 million. Instead of raising taxes or issuing bonds, he said, the county should use the money that would be saved by consolidating fire and other services.

Speaking at the annual State of the County address, Henley acknowledged that the issue of countywide fire services is a "political hot potato," but he said the county's compact size and density of development make it ideal for merging services.

City officials question where the savings would come from, and they warned that city residents would end up paying a county fire tax they don't pay now.

"Henley thinks the county can run it less expensively. I don't think they can," said Frank Clifton, Casselberry city manager.

Clifton and other city administrators said they are willing to sit down with county officials to look at consolidation, but they are skeptical.

If county officials are serious about finding ways to save money through consolidation, he said, maybe they should consider allowing city fire departments to provide services to county-run areas.

Longwood City Administrator John Drago said he would look at what the county could provide, but it would have to be as good or better than what the city provides and at the same or lower cost.

In 2002, the county took over fire services in Altamonte Springs after a study estimated a $10 million savings over seven years. The acquisition led to two chiefs positions being cut and one fire station being closed.

Consolidation proponents say Seminole County's existing first-response system and countywide dispatching would make for easier transitions if departments did merge.

The county's first-response agreement allows the closest units to be dispatched regardless of jurisdiction. That means a fire engine in Oviedo, for example, might respond to a fire in Winter Springs.

Henley's remarks Friday did not catch city leaders by surprise. He floated consolidation of fire, stormwater, roads and parks services at a meeting of city managers and mayors on Thursday. Henley also acknowledged that there could be services that cities could provide for less money than the county.

"We will not know that unless we study the situation," he said. "I hope we will not shy away from it without doing that study."

The money crunch facing the county stems from the need to better fund county library services, which are some of the poorest in the region, and the need to add beds to the county jail. A proposal to add six libraries to the system and expand services would cost $53 million. Adding 640 beds to the county jail would cost $42 million.

The battle to win over skeptics of consolidation may be made more difficult by city-county relations that are already strained by squabbles over development and annexation.

"Right now, the level of trust between the county and the cities isn't there," Drago said.