Members of the Greenwood Fire Department and their union asked the Greenwood Common Council on Monday, Oct. 6, to reinstate longevity pay and to use about $308,000 from the current budget to retain experienced firefighters as the council considers the 2026 budget.

Nathan Paul, identified as president of Local 4252 Johnson County Professional Firefighters, told the council the department’s members are "disappointed" not only by a proposed 1% raise but by the absence of longevity pay. "Reimplementing longevity pay would have been a step in the right direction and a fair and proven way to reward commitment and retain talent," Paul said during the public-comment period.

Why it matters: Union leaders said losing experienced firefighters reduces mentorship and increases hiring costs and operational risk. The council is simultaneously considering a slate of 2026 budget and salary ordinances; decisions about recurring pay lines could create multi‑year obligations for the city.

Union and department leaders pressed several specific points during the public comment period. Tyler Arranger, vice president of Local 4252 and a Greenwood taxpayer, said the department’s call volume is high and that the proposed 1% raise does not keep pace with cost of living or regional recruiting. Arranger told the council he had been quoted in local coverage of the budget debate and repeated a line he attributed to Mayor Myers at a prior meeting: "If people wanna leave the city and go from job to job chasing the dollar, that's their choice," which Arranger said he viewed as dismissive of retention concerns.

Brian Johns, identified in remarks as Greenwood District vice president for Local 4252, asked the council to exercise its budget oversight powers and to consider the union's alternatives for finding the funds. Johns said Greenwood has become noncompetitive for certified firefighter pay in the county and that making new hires wait longer to top out will not retain staff.

Controller Greg Wright gave a staff presentation during the meeting outlining the fire department's multi‑year budget and staffing history. Wright said the department's operating budget has grown from about $4.6 million in 2012 to a proposed $13.5 million for 2026, and full‑time firefighter positions increased from 34 in 2012 to 86 budgeted for 2026. Wright noted that capital investments—stations, engines and apparatus—exceed $29.5 million since 2012 and that overtime spending for the fire department was roughly $1.2 million in 2024.

Wright also described the tradeoffs for restoring longevity. "While there may be a $3,075,000 dollar hit for 2026, it is a permanent additional budget line that would have to be fulfilled every year moving forward," he said, adding that longevity was phased out previously to allow growth in base salaries and new hires.

Mayor Myers responded during a later portion of the meeting, disputing some assertions and urging that the council review historical funding and statutory limits. The mayor said supporters of longevity have argued it boosts pension benefits but warned that "longevity pay does not always result in realized wages and can create long term ... financial commitments for the city," citing the controller's concerns about the city's ability to absorb recurring costs given pending state tax changes.

Discussion vs. decision: The night’s public comments and staff presentations were part of the council's broader budget deliberations; no ordinance to restore longevity appeared on the agenda and no formal council vote to reinstate longevity occurred during the meeting. Council members heard requests to reallocate current budget lines and asked staff for additional information.

Ending: Union leaders said they will continue to press the council to prioritize firefighter pay and retention as the council advances the 2026 budget. Council action on the proposed budget and related salary ordinances remains scheduled for future meetings.