Four new firefighters will join the force in Lynnwood thanks to a federal grant.
FEMA recently awarded the city $634,000 from its SAFER program. SAFER stands for “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response.” The goal is to improve fire department staffing so they can more effectively respond to calls.
“Currently, the Lynnwood Fire Department is down eight authorized firefighter positions,” Fire Chief Gary Olson told us. “These vacant positions are from staff not replaced when there was a retirement, a promotion and/or three positions that were not funded for hire. In going after this SAFER grant, fire management viewed it as a method to bridge emergency staffing needs for the next two years at very minimal cost to the city.”
The money will pay for four firefighters’ salaries and benefits for two years. After two years the city must decide if it wants to keep the firefighters at its own cost. It can apply to extend the grant.
Wow! Does that mean a firefighter in Lynnwood makes salary and benefits of $158,500/year? No wonder Lynnwood’s budget is so far in the red!
You realize, of course, that $158,000 doesn’t all go in that person’s pocket? This number includes medical and dental benefits as well as all taxes to be paid by the employer. Like social security, L&I (which is pretty high on firefighters), etc. Taxes and benfits are extremely expensive.
If you still think that is too much, what IS a reasonable salary for people who get up in the middle of the night to save you when you have a heart attack or who run into burning buildings?
You realize, of course, that $158,000 doesn’t all go in that person’s pocket? This number includes medical and dental benefits as well as all taxes to be paid by the employer. Like social security, L&I (which is pretty high on firefighters), etc. Taxes and benfits are extremely expensive.
If you still think that is too much, what IS a reasonable salary for people who get up in the middle of the night to save you when you have a heart attack or who run into burning buildings?
$634,000 for 2 years……..is $317,000 for 1 year………..is $79,250 per year per firefighter.
Wow! Lynnwood pays its firefighters a total compensation package of $158,500 per year! No wonder this town is in the red by millions of dollars.
Lots of openings on the city council this year!
I thought that we were now being extorted for additional utility tax and property tax to “buy back” some of the cuts that were threatened to shut down the city. If this grant is now being used for that does this mean that some of our tax increases will be reduced?
It makes sense how you mentioned that some spaces in a firefighter department wouldn’t be filled because of retirements and things like that. Having a firefighter staffing agency would be helpful because it would help to ensure that you are always fully staffed. That way you never have to worry about not having enough people for a job.