By Susannah Bryan
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Copyright 2007 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
DAVIE, Fla. — A new contract, 18 months in the making, grants raises of about 15 percent and greater retirement benefits for the town’s firefighters.
Town Council members approved the deal in a 3-2 vote late Wednesday, just two days after a budget meeting where they pored over ways to impose state-mandated cutbacks without resorting to layoffs.
The fire department’s rank and file, however, won support from council members Michael Crowley, Marlon Luis and Susan Starkey.
“This is a fair contract,” Starkey said. “It’s not a windfall by any means.”
Mayor Tom Truex and Vice Mayor Bryan Caletka disagreed and voted against the deal.
“I’m in favor of a fair and generous contract,” Truex said Wednesday. “To me, this one goes too far.”
Starkey and Luis argued the concessions were necessary to remain competitive with other cities and retain skilled employees. Crowley pointed out the union didn’t get everything it wanted.
The town, which has budgeted for 162 firefighter positions, has declined to say how many of those jobs are filled. The town does not yet have figures on what the pay increase will cost, town spokesman Braulio Rosa said Thursday.
Under the former contract, which expired in October 2005, a firefighter/paramedic earned from $44,334 to $61,849. Under the new plan, which applies retroactively, they will earn from $50,242 to $73,385.
The new contract, which expires Sept. 30, 2008, guarantees they will be paid 75 percent of their salary if they retire after 20 years and 95 percent if they put in 30 years. The old contract paid out 70 percent and 90 percent, respectively.
“This contract has been discussed and negotiated for about two years,” Starkey said, noting the retirement benefits are being paid through a current tax on property insurance premiums slated for fire pensions.
Starkey also defended the contract as creating “parity” with the town’s Police Department. Base pay for a Davie officer is $46,350 to $65,219.
Caletka objected on grounds the department’s firefighters who already have retired won’t be eligible for the pension increase.