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Total expense for past, present and future firefighter cost that is paid directly from the city budget breaks down as follows based on the 2020 proposed budget by the mayor:
$17.8 million in department expenses
$4 million in overtime
$3.6 million in firefighter retiree healthcare
$4.3 million in active firefighter healthcare
$20.5 million in firefighter pension cost
Total annual dollars expensed from the city budget $50.2 million.
2020 proposed city budget $156.9 million.
32 percent of the city budget is allocated to pay for past, present and future firefighter services.
With the city reducing the city budget by transferring close to $4 million to the school department to save school sports, the percent is higher than 32%.
Critics will argue that you can’t count retiree costs in the equation.
My response is that it is related to firefighter services that were performed either in the past, are being provided right now, and future costs for the services being provided now are being expensed out of the current budget.
Please explain the inappropriate content below.
