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Fire chief proposes pay bump covered by MSTU increase; council seeks revenue backup
Summary
The fire chief urged a 3% pre‑COLA pay increase for firefighters and said MSTU revenue from unincorporated Bay County would cover the cost. Council asked staff to show the MSTU entries in the revenue page and to provide backup for overtime and medical testing expenses.
The Mexico Beach fire chief urged the council to approve a small pay increase for firefighters and presented a funding plan that would not raise local property taxes.
"We have proposed a small 3% increase before the cola and the merit," the fire chief said, explaining the raise is intended to help retain staff amid competition from neighboring departments. He added the department’s overtime and new medical‑testing costs — including blood testing and broader diagnostic screenings — are part of an effort to improve firefighter health surveillance.
The chief said the additional pay and associated costs will be fully covered by a projected increase in MSTU (Municipal Services Taxing Unit) revenue collected from unincorporated Bay County; he said that stream is expected to bring roughly $59,000 this year. Council members asked staff to show where that MSTU estimate appears on the revenue page and requested spreadsheets that separate interim staff costs and one‑time items from recurring expenses.
Council and staff also discussed the sheriff contract and an additional deputy that has been funded part‑year; members directed staff to include the final contract figures in the budget once the sheriff submits the full proposal. No formal adoption occurred at the workshop; staff will return with reconciled revenue entries and supporting documentation.
