HARRISBURG -- Republican legislators support the Pittsburgh oversight board's effort to nullify the city's new "budget-busting" firefighter contract, but still hope that a nasty courtroom showdown between the board and city officials can be avoided.

Republicans, who control the state House and Senate, pushed in February 2004 to create the five-member Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority -- or ICA -- as the fiscal oversight board is formally known.

The oversight board is one of two state agencies named to oversee Pittsburgh's shaky finances. In December 2003, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell's administration named a team under Act 47, which gives the state the power to oversee financially distressed communities. The Act 47 team was to work with the city to reduce costs and get its budget back into balance.

Republican lawmakers said the ICA was doing its job by pushing to get cost information about the new five-year firefighter contract.

"The ICA is doing exactly what it was created to do -- to be the fiscal watchdog regarding actions by the city," said Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods. "This is not a partisan effort [by Republicans] to hurt the city. These individuals on the board want to do what's best for the city and region."

Some Republican legislators and ICA members have criticized Democratic Mayor Tom Murphy and City Council for approving a five-year fire contract. They said five years is too long for the contract, and it should have been restricted to just one year.

Some GOP lawmakers and ICA members also say Murphy and the Act 47 team should have paid more attention to a fire department efficiency study paid for by the ICA.

That study called for closing nine fire stations, instead of only six as Murphy, council and the city's firefighters union agreed to. Republican lawmakers fear the city won't save enough money under the new contract.

"If the fire contract is a budget-buster for the city, then what the oversight board is doing is justified," said Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, was even harsher in his criticism of city officials. He said the Legislature should take a second look at the new taxes that were approved for the city -- a new payroll tax on businesses and a $52 a year occupation tax -- if city officials don't do enough to cut their costs.

State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said those new levies must stay in place, calling them "absolutely essential for the city's survival."

Frankel said he "reluctantly" voted to create the ICA last year but feared at the time that it could lead to a clash with the Act 47 group.

Frankel is afraid that a court battle between the two state-appointed oversight agencies will further mar Pittsburgh's already damaged reputation around the state and nation.

Metcalfe said he also isn't happy about a court fight, but added, "At the same time, many of us recognize that Pittsburgh needs to make some serious changes in the way they govern if they're going to revive Pittsburgh."

State Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, said the ICA has the statutory right to get fire contract cost information from city officials. He said creation of the ICA was part of a deal to get the additional taxes for the city, but hoped a compromise can be reached without going to court.