Agenda - Council - 12/09/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

I I I I I I i I I CONSIDER PAY INCREASE FOR VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS By: Linda Waite Smith, Administrative Services Manager Background: For the past several years, the City has been following a plan to bring the pay rates for our on- call fire fighters more into line with rates paid to volunteer fire fighters in other metropolitan communities. Although all members of the department are technically volunteers, currently officers receive a small salary and all firefighters who are past probation are paid $7.60 per hour for fire calls and $5.00 per meeting, and $5.00 per hour for drills or community event. The chart below compares the Stanton average for officers and firefighters with the 1997 rates paid in Ramsey and the proposed rates for 1998 and 1999. The following chart compares fire department rates paid by other Stanton Class 6 cities in 1996, as well as the proposed increases for Ramsey for 1997 and 1998. Function Stanton 1997 Ave. Ramsey 1997 Proposed 1998 Proposed 1999 Asst. Chief N/A $1,884/yr $2,520/yr $3,150/yr Captains (2) ' N/A $ 948/yr $1,260/yr each $1,575/yr each Lieutenants(2) N/A $ 540/yr $ 720/yreach $ 900/yreach Training Officer. N/A $ 672/yr $ 900/yr $1,I25/yr Secretary N/A $ 360/yr $ 360/yr $ 360/yr Fire Call Rate $8.'16/hr $7.60/hr $8.20/hr $9.00/hr Meetings, 7.53/hr $5.00/event $6.00/hr $6.00/hr training I I I I I I' I I The chart below shows the projected financial impact of the proposed increases, except for the cost of social security and similar expenses. The estimates are based on 1997 experience and assume that the department employs 26 firefighters who each respond to 45% of 400 calls in 1998 and 430 calls in 1999; and that each call lasts 1.25 hours. Calculations for meetings (which are optional) and training drills (which are required) are based on 20 firefighters attending 12 meetings lasting an hour and 36 training drills lasting two hours each. Function Additional Cost 98/99 Additional Cost 99/98 Fire/Emergency C~-lls $3,510 $5,294 Meetings, events $ 240 $0 Training Drills ' $1,44'0 $0 Officers' Pay $1,845 $1,845 Total '$7,035 $7,139 Because this proposal continues a multi-year plan, funding for the proposed 1998 salary increases have been provided for in the proposed 1998 budget.