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Berkeley County Commission approves fire-department leadership reorganization and pay adjustments
Summary
Commissioners approved a multi-part plan to raise the fire chief's salary, create a deputy chief position, and promote captains and lieutenants to build a command structure for a rapidly growing fire department; estimated first-year cost is $97,573 inclusive of benefits.
Jed, presenting a proposal for the county’s fire services, told the Berkeley County Commission the department has grown rapidly and needs a formal command structure. He proposed raising the fire chief’s salary to $118,000 (regrading the post to grade 16), creating a deputy chief position with a hiring salary of $98,000 (grade 14), and promoting three captains and six lieutenants to provide on-scene leadership across shifts. “This growth will allow us to add an extra person, to better serve the community, operate safer, more effectively when responsible,” Jed said.
The presentation noted the department currently has 48 operational firefighters; with the chief and deputy chief added administratively, the total head count would reach 50. Jed said the changes were designed to maintain internal equity with other county emergency-service leaders and to provide continuity of command as staffing grows.
Fiscal details provided in the presentation show an estimated one-time and recurring fiscal impact of $97,573, inclusive of benefits and retirement costs. Jed broke that down in the presentation: the fire chief adjustment was cited as $24,374; promotions of captains and lieutenants and the deputy chief together account for the remainder of the total.
Commissioners asked how many of the FTEs already exist in the county budget and whether leadership additions would outpace operational growth. Jed and other staff answered that the FTEs are already budgeted and that promotions would be funded largely by regrading and reallocating existing positions; they stated the proposed structure should suffice for the next two to three years before additional leadership (such as a battalion chief) would be considered.
After questions and discussion, a motion to approve the salary adjustments, creation and posting of the deputy chief position, and promotions of three captains and six lieutenants was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.
The commission directed staff to implement the changes in the coming months, beginning with the fire chief salary adjustment and posting for the deputy chief, and to return any necessary personnel paperwork for execution.
