Commissioners weigh standardizing volunteer firefighter pay at $40 per call

Miami County commissioners discussed equalizing volunteer firefighter call pay at $40 during a study session, after staff told the board budget language had been prepared to raise pay from $35 to $40 in several stations.

Mark Whalen said staff member Lucas built additional funds into next year’s budget to increase volunteer pay from $35 to $40 for Lewisburg, Fontana and Osawatomie. Whalen said Paola is already paying $40 per call because of a prior addendum that requires the county to match the city’s volunteer pay when the city increases it.

“Paola went to 40 at the first this year,” Whalen said, noting the county’s last raise to volunteers was in March 2022. He said Lewisburg and other stations have indicated they will match $40 if the county does. Commissioners expressed support for equal pay across jurisdictions to address equity concerns when city and county rosters perform the same work.

Chief Sharp of Osawatomie was mentioned as needing a memorandum of understanding or similar documentation to formalize any pay-change; staff said they could prepare the needed agreement. Commissioners asked staff to add the pay standardization to a future study-session agenda for a brief follow-up discussion; no formal vote was taken at the session.

Next steps: staff will prepare a memorandum of understanding and place the pay-equity discussion on the next study-session agenda so commissioners can take formal action.