By FireRescue1 Staff
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A fire department will undergo a salary cut of more than 11 percent after the state warned the department it only had enough funds to last until the end of November.
Press of Atlantic City reported that Atlantic City Fire Department firefighters will have their salaries decreased by 11.3 percent.
The decision comes two months after Judge Julio Mendez said New Jersey could cut 15 positions in the department.
“While we have made considerable progress in stabilizing Atlantic City, significant work remains in restraining the city’s unsustainable finances,” Community Affairs Department spokesperson Lisa Ryan said. “Judge Mendez’s decision requiring 180 firefighters instead of the 148 the state and city believe is sufficient to maintain public safety in Atlantic City resulted in $3.8 million in additional costs.”
Since 2010, the employee count of the department has decreased by 82 members.
“It’s tough to keep the focus on your job,” Chief Scott Evans said at a recent valor awards ceremony. “What the guys have faced all year have been the toughest challenges.”
“The state and city refuse to have taxpayers and other city stakeholders shoulder the burden of these costs caused by the fire union, thereby resulting in the salary reduction of firefighters, who are still highly compensated when compared to other city employees,” Ryan said. “Notably, the police have chosen to mediate and find compromise, and we encourage firefighters to do the same.”