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Firefighters, North Las Vegas reach agreement
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
North Las Vegas has come to a tentative agreement on contract concessions with the firefighters union that will save the city a projected $500,000 through the end of fiscal year 2012.
The agreement, which still must be approved by the City Council, in part gives the fire chief greater flexibility in staffing and restricts the number of battalion chiefs who can take leave at one time, which is expected to reduce overtime costs. The agreement runs through June 30.
Members of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1607 ratified the agreement Thursday. The City Council will consider it Wednesday.
The agreement gives the fire chief discretion in using "brownouts," or periodically keeping some department vehicles out of service to save money. The city's fire department began implementing brownouts about six months ago.
As part of the agreement, the union will dismiss a pending arbitration case concerning costs for firefighters' health insurance coverage.
A previous agreement between the city and the union, adopted in July, included a 5 percent base salary reduction for union members.
North Las Vegas employs about 100 firefighters and firefighter paramedics and 34 fire engineers. Firefighters in the city average about $162,000 a year in salaries and benefits.
The Fire Department has exceeded its overtime budget in recent years. In fiscal year 2011, the department spent more than double its budgeted overtime of about $1.5 million. It spent nearly 80 percent of its 2012 overtime budget of $933,360 in the first three months of this fiscal year.
A city audit completed in April found that firefighters don't abuse overtime or sick leave but that tight staffing levels led to hefty overtime costs.
The department saved the city money elsewhere by not filling positions and by implementing brownouts and is on track to stay within its overall budget for 2012.
Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.
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This comment is for future readers - I have read a lot of the articles and comments about north las Vegas and their politics and public safety, and it is always the same couple idiots that want to make the good guys look bad. Do some deep research and you can find the truth about whatever you want, and don't trust the RJ. Their columnists are just as politically influenced as the idiots that blog on here.
so now the firefighters are calling the north las vegas police liars
Laughs @ lee really? The guys there thought they were targeted because of what the saw at thethe fire and the police said no and this proves what in your little mind? Really? Hahahah.
Oh yea, the big fraud scam where a couple of guys from the county got fired and a few more might have been disciplined. I remember when a bunch of you were patting yourselves on the back waiting on the ax to fall on the necks of firefighters everywhere by the FBI for some massive made up conspiracy by firefighters all over the valley. Yawn. You guys are a bore and still no one listens to you.
probably time for a convenient justify the jobs fire ,to put some smoke screen in the air.
"r" if you had read the never-ending saga of the firefrauds overtime pay scams, you'd likely be remotely familiar with what the rest of us tricycle scientists know for a fact! Call-back overtime is indeed computed in firefraud retirement pay basis. What’s wrong with that?
Waves @Pete. *very big smile*
Overtime is not included in the computation for retirement payouts. Maybe some of you rocket scientists should get your facts straight bofore you tout wrong information.
What does PERS have to do with this issue??? That's tight, nothing. Also, the figure of $162,000 per year includes insurance, training and all of the other costs associated with employing people. Why don't you guys attempt to find out how much your employers pay for you total compensation. You'de be suprised.
Abolish PERS.