East Lansing fire Chief Randy Talifarro had mixed reactions when he was approached about becoming the interim chief for the Lansing Fire Department while staying in his current position with East Lansing.

"Obviously very apprehensive and nervous, but also very excited to have an opportunity to evaluate each department and look at the strengths and weaknesses," said Talifarro, who has been East Lansing's fire chief since 2001. "I think it's an opportune time. We're all under budget pressures and we also understand there's a need to work more regionally, more collaboratively."

Under the one-year deal presented to the East Lansing City Council in a Tuesday night work session, the two cities would share Talifarro after Lansing fire Chief Tom Cochran retires Jan. 15 next year.

A draft of the agreement, which still requires Council approval from both municipalities, has Lansing paying East Lansing between 40 and 60 percent of Talifarro's total salary and benefits with the rate determined by where he spends his time.

Currently, Talifarro has a $103,000 salary, more than the $97,000 salary Chief Cochran earned in 2010. East Lansing's interim City Manager George Lahanas says he expects Talifarro to get a raise if the deal is approved.

Although the deal is expected to save both Lansing and East Lansing money, it's unclear how much at this point.

Both cities say this is more about collaboration and cooperation than financial gains.

Both cities, along with four other municipalities, are also waiting on the results of a Michigan Municipal League study on whether sharing fire services regionally makes sense. Those results should be back next February or March.

Lahanas says the interim arrangement between Lansing and East Lansing is partly about helping Lansing avoid hiring a fire chief before that study is completed.

East Lansing currently shares an assessor as well as code enforcement personnel with Meridian Township.