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Payouts OK’d for 9 former firefighters
The rest of the money will go to the nine ex-firefighters over either a two-year or a five-year period.
YOUNGSTOWN — The board of control approved paying $111,132 in severance to nine former firefighters who took early- retirement/resignation buyouts in a cost-saving effort by the financially troubled city.
The payouts approved Thursday account for about 30 percent of the entire severance package owed to the ex-firefighters.
As part of the buyout, the firefighters deferred most of their severance package — primarily payments for unused sick and vacation time, and longevity and hazardous- duty pay — over their choice of a two-year or a five-year period.
Those opting for the longer period will receive a little more money than those taking the two-year deal.
If the city had to pay the entire severance costs to the nine former employees now, it would cost $366,129.
The buyout calls for each person to receive a year’s base pay paid over five years, beginning in April.
The annual base salaries of the ranking officers taking the deal was between $62,541 and $82,711.
The buyout was to reduce employee costs for the city that expects to end this year with a deficit of more than $1 million.
The buyout would save the city about $1.4 million over five years, including about $300,000 next year.
The department will hire 10 new firefighters, earning $24,000 in base pay during their first year, later next month.
Not only is the city saving money on base salaries, but new firefighters would have less vacation time, and with a lower base salary than those who left, overtime costs will be less, city officials say.
Twenty city firefighters took the same buyout deal last year.
The city is offering that same deal to members of the ranking police officers union.
Seven ranking police officers took the buyout when it was first offered in July.
City officials say those buyouts will save the city about $700,000 next year.
skolnick@vindy.com