Regular Meeting
02/18/25 06:00 PM
Finance
Sydnie Harris
Personnel
Doc ID: 5775
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
RECLASSIFICATION OF THE FIREFIGHTER/EMT POSITION TO SALARY GRADE 11480 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In order to provide parity between the Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) positions, the District Administrator and Barstow Professional Firefighters' Association (BPFA) members have discussed and agreed that the duties related to firefighting are the same between the two positions. The compensation for the EMT and Paramedic certifications are compensated per the skill pay stipends adopted in the Unit 5 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); therefore, the reclassification in pay grade for the Firefighter/EMT position would elimate any disparity in base salary between the Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/EMT positions. The net effect of this change is to make the base, fire-fighter pay equal for firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/emergency medical technicians because both positions have equal level firefighting responsibilities. The different medical skillsets and certification levels of these two positions will be compensated by the different amounts of additional medical skill-pays. Staff recommends the BFPD Board approve this Amendment to the Unit 5 Memorandum of Understanding to reflect the equal firefighting responsibilities of these two positions, with a minor budget impact.
DISCUSSION:
During discussions with the BPFA and District Administration, there was consensus that the difference in base pay salary for the Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/EMT classifications created disparity between the two positions as the firefighting component of the positions have no differences; therefore the base salaries for both positions should be the same. The difference in pay that currently exists between a Firefighter/Paramedic's (Grade 11480 / $6,229.56 - $7,950.67 per month) and a Firefighter/EMT's (Grade 11380 / $5,639.54 - $7,197.64 per month) base salaries are approximately 10% (Attachment A). BPFA members felt that any disparity in pay between the two positions would be in relation to the medical certifications that are required of each position. This disparity in pay is addressed by means of the EMT or paramedic skill pays that are paid according to the Unit 5 MOU and in addition to the position's base salary. In order to bring parity to the two positions, the base monthly salary for the Firefighter/EMT position would be reclassified to Grade 11480 ($6,229.56 - $7,950.67 per month), the same base salary as a Firefighter/Paramedic.
The EMT and Paramedic skill pays, as set forth in the Unit 5 MOU between the BPFA and the BFPD, will continue to be paid to eligible employees. The monthly skill pay stipend for employees who have an EMT certification is $275 and the paramedic certification monthly skill pay stipend is $1,000. These amounts are paid in addition to the employee's base salary.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the retro payment for the current fiscal year to the Firefighter/EMT positions (2) adjusted will be a combined total of $33,603.30 of which $11,460.07 is regular time and $22,142.60 is overtime.
Additionally, the budget will need to be adjusted for the three positions from the current $379,996.38 to $394,234.04, an increase of $14,237.66 to the FY25 annual budget. This additional increase will be Regular Meeting
02/18/25 06:00 PM
Finance
Sydnie Harris
Personnel
Doc ID: 5775
AGENDA ITEM
covered from the salary savings due to the one vacant Firefighter/EMT position. The total annual increase to the FY26 annual budget will be $34,170.38 given no additional changes in the budgeting process.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the Barstow Fire Protection District Board:
1. Approve the reclassification of the Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) position to salary grade 11480 ($6,229.56 - $7,950.67 per month) (Attachment B).