Hendersonville residents and firefighters press Board for pay parity after police raises

Dozens of current and former Hendersonville firefighters and residents urged the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 22 to restore pay parity between firefighters and police and to raise firefighter pay and retirement benefits to address recruitment and retention shortfalls.

The comments came during the meeting's public-comment period at City Hall, where speakers — including current and former firefighters, association leaders and family members of a deceased firefighter — described departures to other departments, staffing shortages and the effect of pay disparities on morale.

The appeal centered on the board's recent midyear salary adjustment for the Hendersonville Police Department and the perceived omission of a comparable, contemporaneous increase for the Hendersonville Fire Department. “Income parity is not a suggestion,” said Kimberly Overton, a resident who urged the board to follow ordinance 2004-24, which she cited as requiring comparable compensation for similarly classed city positions. “We should be doing everything possible to strengthen their bond, not create tension between departments.”

Why it matters

Fire department speakers said pay disparities are already affecting staffing and operational experience. Former senior firefighter Daniel Irving said he left the department in February 2024 after nearly a decade with the city because a private-sector job offered better pay and family time. “When a member of your team is bleeding out, you act. You stop the bleeding,” Irving said, urging the board to take “meaningful action.”

Several speakers provided numbers and comparisons. Kimberly Overton told the board that Wilson County EMS starts paramedics at $77,000 while Hendersonville starts at $58,000. Division Chief Jamie Costner said Hendersonville firefighters work about 2,756 hours per year versus 2,080 for a typical 40-hour employee and detailed call volumes: since April 2024 the department responded to roughly 8,100 emergencies, she said, with 1,584 after 10 p.m.

Union and department leaders described departures. Steve Ryan, president of the Hendersonville Firefighters Association, said he recently resigned to take a job with another department that offered better pay and benefits and asked the board for “an explanation and an apology” for what he described as damaging public comments by the mayor. “I have accepted a position with another fire department,” Ryan said. “This decision did not come lightly.”

Other longtime firefighters described the historical context. Former Chief Jamie Steele recalled the 2004 parity decision that once set firefighter and police pay on comparable footing: “In 02/2004, we got parity. Now parity… it's gone,” Steele said. Multiple speakers said that eroded parity has led to departures that diminish institutional knowledge and increase recruitment costs.

Board and staff response

Mayor Jamie Cleary acknowledged the remarks and said he was “truly sorry” and pledged to work toward peace. Alderman and Finance Committee chair Leah Sasse said the committee has reviewed the budget and is actively working on solutions: “Know that we are looking at this and we want to make you whole,” Sasse said during committee reports.

Public-works chair Alderman Skidmore, who also spoke during committee reports, echoed support for first responders and said the board is taking the issue seriously.

What speakers asked for

Speakers urged the board to: (1) close pay gaps created by the police adjustment, (2) increase base pay and step progressions for firefighters, (3) consider retirement/benefit improvements to reduce turnover, and (4) avoid using tax or budget arguments that pit departments against one another. Several asked the board to reallocate existing funds, including unspent salaries in vacant positions, rather than raise taxes.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025-14, authorizing the mayor to sign a release of deed restrictions agreement related to the Bradford Berry property. Motion by Alderman Sasse; second by Alderman Ward. Vote: unanimous; outcome: approved. - Resolution 2025-15, renewing permission for the Handmade Market to use City Hall grounds for annual activities. Motion by Alderman Robertson; second by Alderman Garza. The board amended the fee from $200 to $250 (motion to amend by Alderman Dixon; second by Alderman Burgdorff). Amendment vote: unanimous. Main motion: unanimous; outcome: approved.

Bottom line

Speakers framed the issue as a retention and safety concern: they said experienced personnel are leaving for higher pay elsewhere, degrading service continuity. Finance and public-works committee chairs told the packed chamber they are reviewing budget options ahead of the fiscal-year 2026 budget process. The board took two unrelated resolutions that passed unanimously.