Comments on: The Numbers Behind the Tallahassee/Firefighters Contract Negotiations

By: DRD

DRD — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:33:22 +0000

If the Shoe Fits – Who says they retire at 55? They still have to put in their years of service(at least 25 yrs) to receive full retirement benefits. They also pay much more into their pensions for this benefit. It’s not given to them by anyone. Maybe I’m misunderstanding your comment “work 7 more years like everyone else like police”, but the police also retire after 25 years of service or 55 with 5 years of service. All other city employees can retire the before the age of 55 with 30 years of service.
Inyra – Most don’t work 2nd jobs by choice. Their take home pay is so low they need to work. I know many that would rather spend time with family or outside hobbies than having to work a second job. Because a couple of stations are slower then the whole company of personnel don’t get compensated?

By: Inyra

Inyra — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:43:31 +0000

Firefighters make decent money for entry level, they only have to pass a Fire Fighter I/II career certificate program, about 7 months long, and pass the state written and practical examinations. If they get assigned to a slow station they have a lot of down time. Many pursue degrees and have time to study at work.
Many work 2nd jobs by their own choice.
One reason it’s so dangerous is there is still a culture of hero behavior, they deny it but it’s there, and they do things without all the appropriate protective gear on, or without proper backup. Or they get tunnel vision from adrenaline and rush into situations where only property is at stake, not the lives of citizens or animals. The next time a derelict bldg catches fir, please let it burn to the ground.
And many in the fire dept use tobacco products, though they must sign a sworn statement saying they don’t. That increases their risk of heart disease and cancer by their own deceit. The random drug testing ought to be done 5 times more frequently, and does the city’s drug test include testing for nicotine and vaping products?
With all.that said, I’d still spport a raise, but forget the bonuses snd decreased contributions to pension.
On a side note, just look at the high amount the city manager makes, and his feet aren’t even close to being properly held to the fire!

By: If the Shoe Fits

If the Shoe Fits — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 02:52:48 +0000

As much as everyone *says* they support the firefighters, who wants to pay higher service fees for this?

Firefighters retire at 55. If they work 7 more years like everyone else like police it would cost us and them a lot less.

By: Commonsense

Commonsense — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 19:45:47 +0000

Please correct me if my thinking is wrong on what I’m reading here.

1) A salary increase raises your income permanently to a higher ongoing level.
2) A bonus is a one-time payment that you may or may not receive in subsequent years. Once it’s spent, that money is gone forever.
3) How can a reduction in a pension contribution be considered part of giving a person a salary increase? True, it will increase the person’s NET income and will give you more spending money. However, less money is now being contributed to your pension fund. That’s actually a reduction in your GROSS overall life-time earnings. This lower pension contribution offer reduces the amount of money accumulating in your pension fund. That’s not a good thing to do considering the day will come when that pension money will be needed when you’re no longer working.

Suggestion: Forget the bonus and pension contribution reduction. Go for a bigger permanent salary increase. It’s the “gift” that keeps on giving, year after year.

By: Terry Ryan

Terry Ryan — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:39:28 +0000

Spit the differences!

By: David T. Hawkins

David T. Hawkins — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:26:04 +0000

How about this, 8% Raise, keep the Pension Contribution Decrease at 2.5% and forget the Bonus. Tax on Bonuses are HIGHER than Tax on Salary, they would only get about $600.

By: Earnest P. Worrel

Earnest P. Worrel — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 12:58:23 +0000

Given the dangers and low pay, how is it we can expect to have any firefighters at all?