Baton Rouge council certifies election returns, approves 6‑mill fire tax and pay plan; hears $21M budget shortfall and citywide pay‑study update

Baton Rouge — The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on Feb. 26 certified special-election returns that authorize new and renewed local fire-district millages, adopted a 6‑mill ad valorem tax to fund salary increases for municipal firefighters and approved an amendment to the municipal fire pay plan that the administration says will raise total fire payroll by $14,063,560 effective March 8, 2025.

The council heard a separate presentation from the finance department on a citywide compensation study and preliminary funding options, with administration staff warning of an expected roughly $21 million shortfall for next year that will require additional budget reductions or other revenue actions if not addressed.

The council’s actions followed public and union remarks in favor of raises for firefighters. Jake Morgan, president of the Baton Rouge Firefighter Association, thanked the council and public for support and said the plan would “bring our entire fire department up to industry standard pay.”

Why it matters: Council members and department leaders said the approved fire raises respond to a longstanding gap in pay; the compensation-study update signaled broader costs to raise wages for all city/parish employees, and leaders warned the parish faces a near-term structural funding gap that will affect whether broader raises can be implemented.

What the council approved

- Certification of special-election returns: The council unanimously moved to canvass and declare the results of multiple Nov. 5, 2024 special elections for fire protection districts and for proposed Plan of Government amendments. Those items were introduced and voted on during the meeting and recorded on the agenda as Items 97–101 and related items. Motion leading to certification was made on the floor and carried.

- 6‑mill ad valorem levy for city firefighters (Item 102): The council voted to levy 6 mills on property in the City of Baton Rouge for 10 years, beginning with the 2025 tax collection, to fund increases in salaries and benefits for City of Baton Rouge firefighters who are members of the municipal fire and police civil service system. Motion to adopt the millage passed on a council vote.

- Amendment to the municipal fire pay plan (Item 103): The council approved an amendment to the 2025 pay plan for fire employees, appropriating $14,063,560 to implement across‑the‑board municipal fire pay increases (the administration described the change as a 19% increase across…