City police and fire departments ask for salary increases

xhoosier's right. It's time for all of us to tighten belts. Asking for a raise on the heels of ejecting a citizen from a public meeting shows poor timing. The police would set an important example & gain greater sympathy by publicly pledging to protect the Bill of Rights & law of the land (read illegal employment statutes), no matter what the politicians want to the contrary.

That said, Washington wants to keep quality first responders. Why won't the WTH compare compensation in Washington w/ that of such towns as Vincennes, Bedford & Jasper, our Big Four rivals?

Posts: 7371 | Location: Central America | Registered: April 07, 2006

Ignored post by Jethro Bodine posted

Merchant Man

Member

Posted

Quote by Jethro Bodine: It's time for all of us to tighten belts.
________________________________________________
I would like to say the first responders do a fine job. However, during these tough economic times I feel that all of us must tighten belts until the economy improves. Rising costs in all areas of the economy are adversely affecting not only individuals, but businesses, schools, and municipalities.

A 5% increase in salary seems a bit high during these tough times.

Posts: 60 | Location: Indiana | Registered: February 15, 2008

Ignored post by Merchant Man posted

jb399

Free Time

Posted

Let's break it down a little. I have no idea how much a firefighter or first responder in Washington makes so let's assume they make 20k a year. a 5% increase amounts to less than a 50 cent raise. 30k a year amounts to a little more than 70 cents an hour.

Minimum wage set is to increase 80 cents or almost 12% this month followed by another 70 cents next July equaling a $1.50 or a total raise of almost 26%. If burger flippers at McDonalds are worth a 26% raise, aren't the men and women who serve and protect you worth 5%?

Posts: 249 | Location: Evansville | Registered: January 22, 2008

Ignored post by jb399 posted

xhoosier

Newcomer

Posted

I am not trying to create a argument here but I don't think I can compare a burger flipper to a fireman unless my burger flipper gets a retirement plan, vacation time, clothing allowance, etc like the fireman. Don't get me wrong, I think they deserver more but most of the people out there are not going to see a 5% raise this year plus 1% retirement, additional clothing allowance and other things. Just for reference, does anyone know what they make. It has got to be public record. I found a link to some national info which you may want to review but I know that Washington isn't anything like the big cities. http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Fireman/Salary This was still surprising

Posts: 12 | Location: Out West | Registered: February 11, 2008

Ignored post by xhoosier posted

El Flotador Marrón

Free Time

Posted

The minimum wage and that of the local fire fighter/police are hard to compare just on face value. I think it took ten years for the minimum wage to increase from $5.15 to $5.85 but I do not know how this compares to the history of the local police and fire fighter's wage increases. Do they get a pay increase every year? I really think that to provide an accurate analysis, the wage history of both should be looked at.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: El Flotador Marrón,

Posts: 343 | Location: cala de los hawkin | Registered: February 18, 2008

Ignored post by El Flotador Marrón posted

Alberto

Member

Posted

The police and fire always ask for double what they truly expect to get. 2% is what they will get if the council can squeeze the budget that far.

Posts: 56 | Location: Boxtown | Registered: June 24, 2007

Ignored post by Alberto posted

xhoosier

Newcomer

Posted

Next time I will ask for 25% and hopefully my boss will be able to squeeze 12%.

Posts: 12 | Location: Out West | Registered: February 11, 2008

Ignored post by xhoosier posted

Educated

Posted

B.t.w., I couldn`t help but to notice, aren`t we "missing" a topic on this forum?

"Commission looks at loopholes" was the title.

Isn`t it rather odd that the topic dis-appeared so suddenly?

Posts: 571 | Location: Washington,In. | Registered: June 21, 2007

Ignored post by Reno1 posted

Jethro Bodine

Old Pro

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Reno1:
B.t.w., I couldn`t help but to notice, aren`t we "missing" a topic on this forum?

"Commission looks at loopholes" was the title.

Isn`t it rather odd that the topic dis-appeared so suddenly?

Now what was on the Commission looks at loopholes thread that somebody might've found objectionable? IIRC it was noted that Mrs Walford was happy about the conclusion of the Cage-gate affair because The Good Guys Finally Won One. And it was also made clear that an apology or other token of appreciation/settlement to Reno1 was in order to patch up the tattered remains of the First Amendment left lying after the recent Zoning meeting.

Santiago's keeping redfacedly mum on the subject. IIRC he attempted to go off-topic this morning w/ talk of "onomatopoeia" & the 8th grade, after receiving a grammar lesson on possessive pronouns' non-need to be followed by an antecedent. Surely no 8th-grade students or faculty were offended.

The original Times-Herald report is still available at http://www.washtimesherald.com/local/local_story_191220537.html

Posts: 7371 | Location: Central America | Registered: April 07, 2006

Ignored post by Jethro Bodine posted

Educated

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Jethro Bodine:
quote:
Originally posted by Reno1:
B.t.w., I couldn`t help but to notice, aren`t we "missing" a topic on this forum?

"Commission looks at loopholes" was the title.

Isn`t it rather odd that the topic dis-appeared so suddenly?

Now what was on the Commission looks at loopholes thread that somebody might've found objectionable? IIRC it was noted that Mrs Walford was happy about the conclusion of the Cage-gate affair because The Good Guys Finally Won One. And it was also made clear that an apology or other token of appreciation/settlement to Reno1 was in order to patch up the tattered remains of the First Amendment left lying after the recent Zoning meeting.

Santiago's keeping redfacedly mum on the subject. IIRC he attempted to go off-topic this morning w/ talk of "onomatopoeia" & the 8th grade, after receiving a grammar lesson on possessive pronouns' non-need to be followed by an antecedent. Surely no 8th-grade students or faculty were offended.

The original Times-Herald report is still available at http://www.washtimesherald.com/local/local_story_191220537.html

My thoughts exactly Jethro. The matter is far from being settled. But as we both know, legal proceedings do take time.

Posts: 571 | Location: Washington,In. | Registered: June 21, 2007

Ignored post by Reno1 posted

Educated

Posted

I understand Kevin.
Thank you for your support.

There`s an old song out there somewhere, that has the following words in it;

"Meet the new boss,,,,,,same as the old boss"

Posts: 571 | Location: Washington,In. | Registered: June 21, 2007

Ignored post by Reno1 posted

wwn1

Free Time

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Jethro Bodine:
Asking for a raise on the heels of ejecting a citizen from a public meeting shows poor timing.

Ejecting that dope from the meeting is exactly why I would give them a raise.

Posts: 302 | Location: earth | Registered: December 14, 2007

Ignored post by wwn1 posted

Jethro Bodine

Old Pro

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by wwn1:
Ejecting that dope from the meeting is exactly why I would give them a raise.

Plunging our police into partisan politics of patronage hardly helps their bottom line, would-be Boss Tweed sentiments notwithstanding. Washington's bipartisan experiment w/ Haag & Wellman sharing power has worked well so far. Voters increasingly favor divided government precisely owing to the overreach displayed in the recent Zoning Appeals Boardmeeting. Savvy BoxTown wag Alberto's prediction of a 2% across-the-board hike hints that the time for triangulation is here.

Posts: 7371 | Location: Central America | Registered: April 07, 2006

Ignored post by Jethro Bodine posted

Educated

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by wwn1:
quote:
Originally posted by Jethro Bodine:
Asking for a raise on the heels of ejecting a citizen from a public meeting shows poor timing.

Ejecting that dope from the meeting is exactly why I would give them a raise.

I guess some people really get a kick out`a posting slanderous statements, especially since they can hide behind a screen name. As for being a "dope",I`d be more than happy to submit to a drug test. How bout you wwn1?

Posts: 571 | Location: Washington,In. | Registered: June 21, 2007

Ignored post by Reno1 posted