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High Springs adopts firefighter PTO change to align accrual with 24‑hour shifts
Summary
The commission approved a change to how firefighters accrue paid time off so 24‑hour shifts burn PTO hour‑for‑hour; staff said the adjustment (about 1.4% more accrual annually) reduces payouts that previously compensated for 24‑hour shifts with extra hours.
The High Springs City Commission on Feb. 12 approved an amendment to the personnel policy to adjust paid time off accrual for the fire department so firefighters accrue and use PTO hour‑for‑hour for 24‑hour shifts.
Fire department staff explained that under the current system firefighters working 24‑hour shifts effectively used 16 hours of PTO and the city paid an additional 8 hours to create a 24‑hour absence. The proposed change recalculates accrual so a firefighter's banked time is consumed at 24 hours per shift without the additional 8‑hour payout. Staff said the new accrual equates to about a 1.4% higher accrual rate per year when amortized over 24‑hour schedules and that firefighters will still receive the same total time off but will burn it in full 24‑hour blocks.
"Making this adjustment where their accrual rate goes a little higher would allow them to take a full 24 hours of that off at a time and complete and use their PTO rather than getting the extra 8 hours pay," the fire department presenter said.
Commissioners asked whether the change reduces city costs and whether new hires begin accruing immediately; staff said the city expects cost savings because it will no longer pay the extra 8 hours and that firefighters begin accruing on day one (no probationary delay). The commission moved, seconded and approved the revised PTO policy by voice vote.
The change takes effect on adoption; staff said they will monitor operational impacts and return with any needed clarification or implementation items.
