A group of Omaha businessmen Wednesday called for a fresh start on negotiating a new contract between the city of Omaha and the fire union. The group, which calls itself the Omaha Alliance for the Private Sector, says millions of dollars are at stake.

This is the same group that last year supported TV commercials that called for the repeal of a city ordinance that required four firefighters to a truck.

In an analysis of the current fire contract, the group says the taxpayers could have saved over $7 million if the city had taken a harder line in negotiations.

One example to which they point is the firefighters health care plan requires an annual deductible of $150 for individuals and $300 for an entire family. It's remained the same since 2002. Most other workers in almost any other industry pay deductibles that are much higher.

"It appears to be cut and pasted together over the years through ineffective, unfocused negotiators representing the city who have really given the fire union a sweetheart deal,” said Rick Bettger with the Omaha Alliance.

Eighty percent of dental insurance premiums are paid by the city. Firefighters and their entire families get free Lasik eye surgery. "It's clear this contract should not be extended, it should not be extended,” said Alliance member David Nabity.

The group also notes that so much detail is spelled out in the 171-page contract, that it eliminates the ability of anyone to actually manage the fire department.

The fire union president, who was not allowed into the news conference, said the contract is detailed for a reason. "The complexity and the thoroughness of our contract really does keep us out of the labor disputes,” said Steve LeClair.

The Alliance doesn't buy it. "The authority to regulate the Omaha Fire Department has been methodically and we assume intentionally shifted from the city of Omaha into the fire union contract itself,” said Nabity.

The Omaha Alliance argues that the city people who negotiated the old contract are essentially the same people negotiating the new contract. How can the taxpayers expect a more balanced deal based on what these negotiators have produced in earlier contracts?

Representatives of the fire union met with reporters after the Omaha Alliance news conference. The union says the contract spells out a lot of detail because it addresses a number of safety issues not only for the public, but also for the firefighters.

The union rejects the Omaha Alliance analysis and notes that Nabity is just bitter because he has run for public office and lost.

Channel 6 News News requested an interview with Mayor Suttle, but was given a written statement instead. The mayor rejects the call to start negotiations over, saying they are too far into the process to begin anew.

"It's thousands of hours,” said LeClair. “These contracts are not negotiated in a matter of hours or weeks."

The mayor's statement also noted that two of the city's key representatives in the contract talks are chief of staff Steve Oltmanns and city finance director Pam Spaccarotella. To the extent that both are new to city government, both are new to the contract negotiations.

Richard O'Gara was also announced as the new human resources director Tuesday and the mayor says he brings a fresh perspective to contract discussions.

Mayor Suttle will meet later this week with members of the Omaha Alliance.