It's Your Money

In last week’s article we discussed some of the factors driving up Martin County’s TOTAL personnel cost, which now averages about 88% of all department operating budgets. This figure is even higher in the Public Safety sector (Sheriff – Fire/EMS) whose operations now account for some 70% of the total County budget. In this sector Fire/EMS is the only operation that has increased both their numbers and budgets over the last three years, has the highest average cost per employee and, by far, the highest percentage of their operating budget (over $35,000,000 of $38,800,000) taken up by personnel cost. Because of this we have focused much attention on the County’s excellent, but unsustainably expensive Fire/Rescue service.

In the County’s 2010 budget there are now a total of 349 Fire/EMS personnel with an AVERAGE total personnel cost of approximately $100,000 each. Since this figure includes 16 Lifeguards (average total cost of $72,000 each) and 14 Communications personnel (average total cost of $75.000 each) the average total cost of actual Firefighter/EMS personnel are well over 103,000 each. The direct personnel costs for the entire Fire/Rescue Service are as listed below:

F/R S Department Personnel Average Gross Pay Avg Total Personnel Cost

Administration 8 $68,264 $84,531

Communication(911) 14 $57,665 $75,258

Emergency Mgt. 2 $84,000 $107,140

Fire Prevention 4 $59,225 $82,872

Lifeguards 16 $50,100 $72,690

Nuclear Planning 2 $69,240 $88,292

Special Ops 6 $122,514 $163,749

Support Services 6 $77,020 $108,660

Fire/EMS Operations 291 $73,407 $103,792

Total/Averages 349 $73,100 $100,343

 There are also other costly personal benefits to be considered. In addition to lucrative retirement, and health and survivor benefits, Fire/EMS personnel are allowed to accumulate inordinately large amounts of their very generous vacation, sick leave and other/compensatory time off. Up to 480 hours (10 weeks) of vacation time can be accumulated by each individual and sold back at separation/retirement. Up to 720 hours (15 weeks) of sick time can be accumulated with up to 50% sold back. Compensatory time off, accumulated when operating during an emergency can be banked with no limit and 100% can be sold back.

As of a few months ago the following total banked hours were available to be used as time off or sold back for cash by individual Fire/Rescue personnel. Remember, most of this time was accumulated by personnel that work 2 days (2 - 24 hour shifts) per week. At the 48 hours per week rate the following amounts of banked hours equate to nearly 65 years of time off for their 349 people.

Vacation Time Sick Time CTO/Other Banked Hours TOTAL

49,636 hours 90,221 hours 21,447 hours 161,304 hours

(1,034 weeks) (1,880 weeks) (447 weeks) (3,360 weeks)

(64 years,9 months)

As we have stated many times, we are proud of our excellent, award winning Fire/Rescue Service and the personnel that render that service. However, compared to the rest of our private sector and other government service employees, the personnel cost of Martin County Fire/Rescue is becoming a burden that cannot be supported by our tax base. The County Administration and Commission must take appropriate actions to control these costs.