Kudos to the O.C. Register for their latest investigative effort. They have dug up startling information about how much money our O.C. firefighters are making, thanks in great part to the ridiculous pension spike that our previous O.C. Board of Supervisors approved.
That pension spike was approved by pro-union Republicans Jim Silva, Todd Spitzer, Cynthia Coad, Chuck Smith and Tom Wilson. I helped Supervisor Chris Norby to unseat Coad. Spitzer now works for O.C. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, and is the presumed heir to T-Rack, and Silva got the support of most of the OC GOP machine when he later ran for the State Assembly. Remember these names – these bad Republicans may yet bankrupt our county again.
Here are a few excerpts from the Register’s article:
Overtime costs at the Orange County Fire Authority hit $27.9 million last year, a 55 percent increase since 2003, an Orange County Register analysis of payroll records has found.
Most of the overtime – 86 percent – is spent to keep fire stations open on a 24 hour basis—not for major disasters like the Santiago and Freeway Complex fires.
Interviews and records show that a key factor behind the growth of overtime is the enhancement of pension benefits granted to firefighters in 2001. The pension benefits have boosted the cost of each firefighter dramatically, simultaneously discouraging the agency from new hires and encouraging more early retirements.
The result is more vacancies and larger overtime bills to cover empty shifts. Last year, the 61 vacant positions contributed to more than 30 percent of overtime payouts.
Meanwhile, the overtime has helped to transform firefighting from a blue-collar job to a high-paying profession. Last year OCFA’s 814 firefighters, engineers and captains earned a median annual pay of $137,784. Overtime made up $36,488 of that. (Median is the number in the middle—half the firefighters made more and half made less.)
To reduce that overtime by hiring more firefighters just send a check directly to the OCFA or send it to Chris Stree when the BOS raises taxes.
Mr. Morrissey, I do not believe local electeds like the BoS can raise taxes. The voters have enacted propositions that require a vote of the people for tax increases. This growing cost will have to be financed by some other means than a tax increase, unless the voters do the unlikely thing of some day passing a tax increase ballot proposal. That is as I understand current law today.
the ff’s deserve the pensions– dangerous work and short life expectency– it’s a no brainer—I do think we should cut costs though in salaries, programs and other areas— immigration and education are full of waste…let promises remain promises—
Where can I sign up? Do you have ANY idea what you would have to earn in the private sector to receive a GUARANTEED pension in the 6 figure range?
A valiant, respectable job. But a 6 figure job? Baloney.
Baloney??? You idiots think that we don’t pay into our pensions….. What do you do for a living? Do you think a suit in the private sector really deserves to bring home $2-300,000 a year?? Look at this picture and let me know if you think her parents truly feel the way do!
Captain UnReasonable, a Battalion Chief maybe. I challenge you to find JUST ONE firefighter that has a 6-figure pension. Considering you don’t have ANY IDEA what the average firefigher’s work day entails, I suggest you educate yourself and do a ride-along. Otherwise, shut your pie hole.
You can’t have it both ways. You either allow the pay of hiring more firefighters (which cuts down overtime) or you pay the overtime to the firemen when you decide not to fund new recruit classes. Common sense.
This is typical. The general public only cares about firefighters when their house is on fire or when some fanatics fly planes into skyscrapers. In between those moments the average taxpayer is falling hook, line, and sinker for the OVERPAID politicians goals to take money out of firefighters’ wallets and food out of their childrens’ mouths. Instead of armchair quarterbacking and forming ridiculous opinions based on little information, take a moment to educate yourself.
The whole fireman pension house of cards is coming to an end soon.