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SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Major changes are coming in the leadership of the Syracuse Fire Department after word that the department's chief and deputy chief plan to retire.

Mark McLees and Charlie Duffy have been in their jobs since 2010. Mayor Stephanie Miner says the two delivered the news to her in a meeting on Friday.

The fire department is facing potentially deep cuts in a city budget that's currently in the works. Neither McLees nor Duffy agreed to interviews.

The mayor claims the budget issue played no role in their decision.

"It is a heavy burden to be in leadership in the City of Syracuse during these challenging times. And I have been very open and honest with the people of this city that there are challenging times in front of us and we have continued to meet those challenges on a day to day basis and we'll meet them in the future. Chief McLees and Chief Duffy have been part of meeting those challenges," Miner said.

McLees and Duffy will retire in mid-March.

Miner says she has no candidates in mind yet.