Marion County officials have announced a new pay package for firefighters.
The plan, agreed to today, will go before the Marion County Commission for final approval.
The deal will boost starting pay for firefighter/paramedics to $50,014.98. Single-certified paramedics will make a base salary of $45,715.04, plus a transport stipend of $5,831 per year. Dual-certified paramedics also will make an extra $2 hourly stipend when working on a transport unit.
The amended contract will provide all current Marion County Fire Rescue paramedics with an increase of $3.43 per hour, which equates to $10,284.86 annually for dual-certified firefighter/paramedics and $10,000.17 for single-certified paramedics.
“This is a great leap forward for Marion County Fire Rescue,” said Marion County Fire Chief Jamie Banta. “The commitment our county commissioners and county administrator have shown to getting this problem addressed really means a lot to our agency’s ability to continue attracting the best of the best.”
Marion County Commissioner Kathy Bryant said the new pay package will make it easier for the county to recruit and retain firefighters.
“Following our workshop in March, the County Commission recognized the need to go back to the table to negotiate the pay of our men and women of MCFR to be even more competitive,” Bryant said.