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Ways & Means reviews tentative three‑year Crookston firefighters pact with 6% annual increases
Summary
Committee discussed a tentative three‑year agreement with the Crookston Firefighters Association (Jan. 1, 2027–Dec. 31, 2029) proposing a 6% raise each year (presented as a $12,225 total increase) to help cover a roughly $6,000 projected budget deficit for 2026; firefighters attended to answer questions about equipment and budget pressures.
The Ways & Means Committee discussed a tentative three‑year agreement between Crookston City and the Crookston Firefighters Association that would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and conclude Dec. 31, 2029.
Darren told the committee the proposed contract retains current language but updates the term and pay exhibits. The presentation described a 6% increase for each year of the three‑year period — 2027, 2028 and 2029 — and staff summarized that the package amounts to roughly a $12,225 total increase over the prior contract, or just over $4,000 per year on average.
The committee reviewed a proposed 2026 budget the firefighters association provided showing expenses near $139,500 and revenue from the city and area townships of approximately $133,000, leaving a deficit of about $6,000 under the proposed 2026 figures. Committee members asked whether townships would be asked to increase contributions and discussed the challenges of equipment replacement: when purchased in 2018, a fire truck cost about $485,000; a comparable replacement now is roughly $1.2–$1.3 million, staff and firefighters said.
Representatives from the firefighters association, Eli Sullivan and Jake Lee, were present to answer questions. They said township negotiations are ongoing and that leasing a fire truck was not feasible because lease costs quoted in discussion would be roughly $100,000 per year. Committee consensus was to move the tentative agreement to full council for approval consideration; the committee did not adopt a final recommendation on the contract terms at this meeting.
