Hendersonville residents and firefighters press BOMA to restore pay parity after police raises

Dozens of current and former Hendersonville firefighters and residents told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 22 that recent pay increases for the police department have left the fire department behind, increasing resignations and harming morale.

The speakers described recruitment and retention problems and large pay gaps when compared with neighboring departments. Kimberly Overton, a registered nurse and Hendersonville resident, told the board: "I support the proposed salary increase for the Hendersonville Police Department. They deserve competitive pay... but so do our firefighters and they are being left behind." Colton Young, speaking for the Hendersonville Firefighters Association, warned: "Retaliation has no place in professional government, not in policy, not in politics, and certainly not in public safety." Former and current firefighters gave personal accounts of colleagues leaving for higher pay and of on‑the‑job risks.

Why it matters: Speakers said the departures reduce experience on the fire line and increase operational strain. Multiple commenters cited numerical gaps and local hiring offers as evidence of a market problem: Kimberly Overton said Wilson County EMS starts paramedics at…