NEW YORK (AP)  -- New York Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta says the city is short on EMTs.

At least 80 EMTs and paramedics are leaving for higher paying jobs as firefighters. Scoppetta says he expects to be down 121 workers for the summer season, which is about 7 percent of the 1,900-member force. He says employees will have to work overtime to cover the gap.

EMTs earn between $27,000 and $31,000 a year. Scoppetta says if he could pay them more, he'd be able to keep more EMTs on staff. Scoppetta testified on the shortage before a City Council budget hearing.