PROGRESO - The Progreso Police Department has a new working phone line.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS reported Thursday their emergency line had issues after a resident’s call went unanswered.

Progreso City Manager Alfredo Espinosa said budget constraints are making it difficult to hire a dispatcher.

He’s currently working to upgrade the town’s emergency response unit. He said the department is only one of more concerns.

“Well, since I came in there hasn’t been a dispatch, you know, financial problems… We have to make certain decisions on personnel where we can best utilize our resources,” he said.

Espinosa said a big part of the city’s budget was used to create another emergency response department.

“I want to start our fire department. There is money budgeted to hire some paid firefighters, in addition to having volunteers. The citizens want their own department here, so hopefully we can move forward,” he said.

Espinosa said Progreso has been using the city of Weslaco’s fire department to fight fires.

Resident Jesus De Leon said he supports building a fire department in his own city.

“It’s bad obviously if somebody’s house – it could be my house, it could be your house or it could be anybody’s house,” he said. “You know you don’t want that to happen. It would be great if they get the fire department as soon as possible.”

Espinosa said all future firefighters are in training. He said Progreso fire crews will assist Pharr’s fire department.

The Progreso Fire Department is scheduled to open in April.