Boulder City approves two-year firefighters contract with retroactive raise, council says finance can cover costs

The City Council unanimously approved Resolution 80-98, adopting a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the City of Boulder City and the City Professional Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 5073).

City Manager Ned Thomas presented key terms of the agreement during a public hearing: the contract is retroactive to July 1, 2025, and extends through June 30, 2027. Thomas said the first-year wages include a retroactive adjustment of 4.375% described as a cost-of-living plus market adjustment. Year two increases, Thomas explained, will be tied to the consumer price index with a minimum of 2.25% and a maximum of 3.25%.

Thomas also described changes to health insurance participation (firefighters will not be part of the city's Teamsters insurance offering on a monthly basis) and an incentive-pay structure that allows additional compensation for certain certifications: 2% for HAZMAT certification and up to 3% for technical rescue certifications including vehicle and machinery, swift-water, high/low angle rope and wilderness rescue.

The city manager provided fiscal-impact figures: an estimated $259,006.88 increase to the current fiscal year (FY 2026) and an estimated $493,155.34 impact in the second year; Thomas said the finance department has analyzed the figures and determined the city can cover those increases.

After opening the hearing and receiving no public comment on the item, a council member moved and another seconded approval of Resolution 80-98; the motion carried unanimously.