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Council weighs fire chief raise, overtime ineligibility and bunker-gear replacements
Summary
Council considered a 5% raise proposed for the fire chief while other fire personnel were discussed for 3% increases; members flagged the need to replace bunker gear on a 10-year rotation and prioritized safety equipment in capital requests.
During the budget review the council discussed different pay rates for fire department personnel and equipment needs. Staff explained that the fire chief carries additional responsibilities and is not eligible for overtime, which prompted a proposal for a 5% increase for that role while many other positions were modeled at 3%. Committee members pressed whether the budget can afford these differentiated raises and asked staff to provide modeled scenarios.
Separately, fire staff and council members said bunker gear must be replaced on a roughly 10-year cycle for safety; staff identified that replacement cost in a contract-services or capital line (a portion of the discussion referenced an $8,000 line item connected to protective gear). Council agreed safety equipment is a priority but directed staff to show the budget effects of approving differing raise percentages.
