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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.g. Hourly Pay for Training �� ROS�� V1��� �IT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCI � City Council Meeting: September 16, 2014 AGENDA ITEM: Hourly Pay for Training AGENDA SECTION: Consent PREPARED BY: Fire Chief Schroeder AGENDA NO. • . ATTACHMENTS: APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve an hourly training pay of $10.00/hour for the Rosemount Firefighters. ISSUE Currently the Rosemount Firefighters receive a $10.00 stipend for every training event they attend for the Rosemount Fire Department. BACKGROUND In an effort to attract more volunteer firefighters to the Rosemount Fire Department, the idea to reinstate hourly pay for training was addressed. Hourly pay was the norm prior to 2002. This would also be a means to retain current and new members of the department in order to ease the burden and time commitment from their families. The fire department recently added five new firefighters and is looking to add additional firefighters by the end of the year to fill vacancies. In 2013 and 2014, the fire department lost 11 members with the time commitment being the leading cause of departure. Under the current $10.00 stipend for training pay, the average payroll total for the months of October, November and December would be $4,740.00. During this same time period, four of the five new firefighters will attend First Responder training. The total training stipend pay for those members would be $540.00, for a total of$5,280.00 in stipend pay. During that same time period for the average hourly training pay, the total would be $10,290. The hourly training pay for firefighters attending First Responder would be $1,600, for a total of $11,890. The difference between the current average training stipend pay and the additional hourly pay for the months of October, November and December would be approximately $6,610.00. These figures are estimates of 27 firefighters on average attending a training night and additional training events such as committee meetings, fire prevention events, and other department related training events. After consulting with the Finance Director, the additional expense would be taken from the Fire Department budget and if this causes the overall Fire budget to go over for the year, additional revenue is available elsewhere in the City to cover the cost. The new cost is also already accommodated in the preliminary 2015 budget approved on September 2"a SUMMARY I recommend the return to hourly pay for training from the current $10.00 stipend to an hourly rate of$10.00 effective October 1, 2014. 2