08-18-2007, 09:58 AM
County ponders 2.5% pay raise
Officials ask not to cut First Responder program
BY JAMES DEAN
FLORIDA TODAY ADVERTISEMENT
WEB EXTRAS
Officials lobby against first responder cuts
After two months of budget cuts and a threatened salary freeze because of property tax reform, Brevard County commissioners today will consider raises averaging 2.5 percent for more than 4,100 employees.
"It looks like we've been able to address the issue of raises that looks to be fair and across the board, and I think that's a good start," Commissioner Chuck Nelson said.
The proposed raises, to be discussed at a 9 a.m. workshop in Viera, would not come at the expense of a county program that helps cities pay for advanced emergency medical care, something commissioners had contemplated cutting.
City leaders and fire chiefs held a news conference Wednesday in Rockledge to urge the county not to cut that $1.3 million in assistance, called the First Responder program.
"We know times are difficult for all of us," said Rockledge City Manager Jim McKnight, "but this is one of those things that should not be on the table. This is a necessary service."
But Brevard County Fire-Rescue Chief Bill Farmer said Wednesday he was no longer recommending cutting the program because of the improved outlook over raises.
"I don't think that's on the table anymore," he said. "Financially, we're in a better place, where we believe there may be some room for future raises."
Farmer's earlier recommendation to cut First Responder funding came when it appeared the county would deny its
firefighters raises while giving money to city departments that were offering raises.
In a Wednesday memo to commissioners, County Manager Peggy Busacca detailed $4.2 million available after more than $12 million in budget cuts.
More than half the money is available because Farmer determined Fire-Rescue needed less general fund support next year. Another $1 million originally was targeted for reserves, and the remainder comes from the Property Appraiser's reduced budget and putting less money into health insurance reserves.
The memo shows the county could honor automatic "step" raises in firefighters' and deputies' existing contracts and give other employees equivalent raises of about 1.5 percent. On top of that, everyone could get a 1-percent cost-of-living increase.
The proposed raises will require negotiations with at least two unions and are less than firefighters have requested. Union representatives weren't immediately available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Nelson said the money for raises was not discovered suddenly but the result of careful examination and continued refinement of the budget.
He believes the commission is close to finalizing a tentative budget that will be presented for public hearings at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 and Sept. 18.
"I think we're getting down to some final decisions that will hopefully conclude the process," he said.
Officials ask not to cut First Responder program
BY JAMES DEAN
FLORIDA TODAY ADVERTISEMENT
WEB EXTRAS
Officials lobby against first responder cuts
After two months of budget cuts and a threatened salary freeze because of property tax reform, Brevard County commissioners today will consider raises averaging 2.5 percent for more than 4,100 employees.
"It looks like we've been able to address the issue of raises that looks to be fair and across the board, and I think that's a good start," Commissioner Chuck Nelson said.
The proposed raises, to be discussed at a 9 a.m. workshop in Viera, would not come at the expense of a county program that helps cities pay for advanced emergency medical care, something commissioners had contemplated cutting.
City leaders and fire chiefs held a news conference Wednesday in Rockledge to urge the county not to cut that $1.3 million in assistance, called the First Responder program.
"We know times are difficult for all of us," said Rockledge City Manager Jim McKnight, "but this is one of those things that should not be on the table. This is a necessary service."
But Brevard County Fire-Rescue Chief Bill Farmer said Wednesday he was no longer recommending cutting the program because of the improved outlook over raises.
"I don't think that's on the table anymore," he said. "Financially, we're in a better place, where we believe there may be some room for future raises."
Farmer's earlier recommendation to cut First Responder funding came when it appeared the county would deny its
firefighters raises while giving money to city departments that were offering raises.
In a Wednesday memo to commissioners, County Manager Peggy Busacca detailed $4.2 million available after more than $12 million in budget cuts.
More than half the money is available because Farmer determined Fire-Rescue needed less general fund support next year. Another $1 million originally was targeted for reserves, and the remainder comes from the Property Appraiser's reduced budget and putting less money into health insurance reserves.
The memo shows the county could honor automatic "step" raises in firefighters' and deputies' existing contracts and give other employees equivalent raises of about 1.5 percent. On top of that, everyone could get a 1-percent cost-of-living increase.
The proposed raises will require negotiations with at least two unions and are less than firefighters have requested. Union representatives weren't immediately available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Nelson said the money for raises was not discovered suddenly but the result of careful examination and continued refinement of the budget.
He believes the commission is close to finalizing a tentative budget that will be presented for public hearings at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 4 and Sept. 18.
"I think we're getting down to some final decisions that will hopefully conclude the process," he said.