May 9 Election: Firefighter referendums

Entry-level firefighters make approximately $38,000 per year.

The firefighters already receive a 5 percent automatic pay increase. The automatic step increase happens every year for nine years.

Voters are being asked to change the rate of pay raises on top of the 5 percent pay increase.

The firefighters association tells ABC-7 about half of the members have tapped out on the nine step increases.

The firefighters association told ABC-7 last week that they want their salary and benefits to be more comparable to those of police officers.

Mark Sutter, the city’s chief finacial officer , explained the firefighters do different jobs than what the police officers do.

Sutter says the city put out another option for the firefighters last week and they approached the mayor saying they were still willing to negotiate. The city scrambled to make another offer and it is now in front of the firefighters.

It’s now up to them to accept it or wait to see what voters decide.

The city wants to get the facts out: a vote Yes is for the firefighters proposal, a vote No is for the city’s proposal.

Early voting is underway, election day is May 9.