The Briefing Room

State Chapters => Texas => Topic started by: corbe on March 10, 2019, 01:59:50 am

Title: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: corbe on March 10, 2019, 01:59:50 am
Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises

by Katelyn Caralle

March 09, 2019 01:19 PM

 
Four hundred Houston firefighters will be laid off in order to pay for pay raises mandated by voters.

Fifty-nine percent of voters approved a measure in November that requires the city pay firefighters the same as police officers who have corresponding ranks. But to pay for the raises, the city will fire 10 percent of its workforce.

Democratic Mayor Sylvester Turner said that implementing the pay raises would be impossible without also laying off the 400 firefighters, Fox News reported.

Turner, who opposed the raises, said his administration will mail layoff notices within the next few weeks, which includes 68 cadets who were not promoted during a hiring freeze.

<..snip..>

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/houston-will-fire-10-percent-of-firefighters-to-give-others-raises (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/houston-will-fire-10-percent-of-firefighters-to-give-others-raises)
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Wingnut on March 10, 2019, 02:15:49 am
Houston.  Enjoy your increased HO policy rates due to the down grade of the fire protection rating..   
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: roamer_1 on March 10, 2019, 05:34:54 am
I have mixed feelings on this kind of thing...

For instance, state highway patrols are paid as good or better than county deputies and city cops... But a state Fish and Game warden - A sworn LEO every bit the same as any other, and even more alone than any of them in his duties, gets paid way less. And Corrections Officers working for the county - I know they ain't sworn, but a lot of times they should be. And i doubt any of em come close to the danger and rough and tumble that COs do for pennies on the dollar...

Same sort of things with firemen. They are in a very high-risk job, and likely should get paid accordingly,

As an instance, I like the idea of a sworn state LEO being able to move horizontally between services, be it warden, highway patrol, marshals, and etc, not to mentioned being cross-trained.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: truth_seeker on March 10, 2019, 05:54:47 am
When 59% voted for the raises, did they know this to be the result?

Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on March 11, 2019, 01:37:36 pm
Houston.  Enjoy your increased HO policy rates due to the down grade of the fire protection rating..
Talked to a Houston fireman a few months ago.  He told me 95% of his time is not spent on fighting fires as it is mostly EMT and the like services.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Idiot on March 11, 2019, 02:53:31 pm
I have mixed feelings on this kind of thing...

For instance, state highway patrols are paid as good or better than county deputies and city cops... But a state Fish and Game warden - A sworn LEO every bit the same as any other, and even more alone than any of them in his duties, gets paid way less. And Corrections Officers working for the county - I know they ain't sworn, but a lot of times they should be. And i doubt any of em come close to the danger and rough and tumble that COs do for pennies on the dollar...

Same sort of things with firemen. They are in a very high-risk job, and likely should get paid accordingly,

As an instance, I like the idea of a sworn state LEO being able to move horizontally between services, be it warden, highway patrol, marshals, and etc, not to mentioned being cross-trained.
I agree....  Our state fish and game wardens are paid way less.  No way I'd want to be in one of their shoes confronting someone you know is carrying a gun and is likely not happy to see you.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 11, 2019, 03:13:04 pm
I agree....  Our state fish and game wardens are paid way less.  No way I'd want to be in one of their shoes confronting someone you know is carrying a gun and is likely not happy to see you.

Isn't game warden one of the most dangerous jobs in the US? 
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on March 11, 2019, 03:21:08 pm
Isn't game warden one of the most dangerous jobs in the US?
Likely is, cause everyone he meets is carrying a gun.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: truth_seeker on March 11, 2019, 03:46:29 pm
Talked to a Houston fireman a few months ago.  He told me 95% of his time is not spent on fighting fires as it is mostly EMT and the like services.

My city took over "ambulence" service a few years ago. When ever a firetruck rolls, an ambulence rolls.

As I understand it here, today--all firefighters are also EMTs.

Retire at age 50, with 90% of your highest pay, full medical. For your life, and the life of your spouse.

With so many moving to Texas from elsewhere, they are going to want as much as they think they can get.

Down the road, fully funding government worker retirement costs is a huge unfunded liabiity.

I understand in Texas they can simply increase property taxes. No so in California, however.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 11, 2019, 03:51:20 pm
My city took over "ambulence" service a few years ago. When ever a firetruck rolls, an ambulence rolls.

As I understand it here, today--all firefighters are also EMTs.

Retire at age 50, with 90% of your highest pay, full medical. For your life, and the life of your spouse.

With so many moving to Texas from elsewhere, they are going to want as much as they think they can get.

Down the road, fully funding government worker retirement costs is a huge unfunded liabiity.

I understand in Texas they can simply increase property taxes.
No so in California, however.

Governor Greg Abbott is working hard to put a cap in property taxes.  Let's hope he is successful.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 11, 2019, 03:57:57 pm
When 59% voted for the raises, did they know this to be the result?

The ONLY reason for this being the result is that the current Mayor of Houston is a flaming liberal and doesn't want to curtail all the spending currently being done on foolish things in order to pay for this @truth_seeker .
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Idiot on March 11, 2019, 04:00:20 pm
The ONLY reason for this being the result is that the current Mayor of Houston is a flaming liberal and doesn't want to curtail all the spending currently being done on foolish things in order to pay for this @truth_seeker .
Is this the "Lebanese" woman?...I forget.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 11, 2019, 04:09:19 pm
Is this the "Lebanese" woman?...I forget.

No. She is long gone now.  The current Mayor is former State Rep. Sylvester Turner
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Wingnut on March 11, 2019, 09:11:14 pm
Governor Greg Abbott is working hard to put a cap in property taxes.  Let's hope he is successful.

The sky high prop taxes in Keller was the major reason we left Texas to retire in FL.   Loved the state. Hated the taxes in a non income tax state.  I have an extra 4K to spend every year
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 11, 2019, 09:18:56 pm
The sky high prop taxes in Keller was the major reason we left Texas to retire in FL.   Loved the state. Hated the taxes in a non income tax state.  I have an extra 4K to spend every year

I understand.  I live in a less ritzy part of Texas and keep an Ag exemption, so they're tolerable.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on March 12, 2019, 12:33:05 am
I understand.  I live in a less ritzy part of Texas and keep an Ag exemption, so they're tolerable.
you'll really enjoy the  homestead taxes when you get to 65.  Frozen.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 12, 2019, 12:40:23 am
The sky high prop taxes in Keller was the major reason we left Texas to retire in FL.   Loved the state. Hated the taxes in a non income tax state.  I have an extra 4K to spend every year

As I'm very sure you already know, property taxes are now a very big, if not the biggest, political issue in Texas. I'm working on it hard!

@The Ghost
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Wingnut on March 12, 2019, 01:00:00 am
As I'm very sure you already know, property taxes are now a very big, if not the biggest, political issue in Texas. I'm working on it hard!

@The Ghost

Get it done. 
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 12, 2019, 01:02:26 am
Get it done.

Yes Sir!  Won't happen all at once but hoping to get school M&O off of property taxes this round.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 12, 2019, 01:06:54 am
you'll really enjoy the  homestead taxes when you get to 65.  Frozen.

Yes, I'm looking forward to that. 
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 12, 2019, 01:07:57 am
As I'm very sure you already know, property taxes are now a very big, if not the biggest, political issue in Texas. I'm working on it hard!

@The Ghost

Thank you, @Bigun.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 12, 2019, 01:11:43 am
Thank you, @Bigun.

You are very welcome!  I just hope we are successful.  The professional lobby doesn't like us very much.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 12, 2019, 01:18:58 am
You are very welcome!  I just hope we are successful.  The professional lobby doesn't like us very much.

Let me know if I can help.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Bigun on March 12, 2019, 01:29:19 am
Let me know if I can help.

I think all of the public testimony on this is already in but it's never too late to ask your reps to support HB2915.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: IsailedawayfromFR on March 12, 2019, 01:44:21 am
Yes, I'm looking forward to that.
Don't look forward too much to getting old.

There are downsides that more than compensate the upsides.
Title: Re: Houston will fire 10 percent of firefighters to give others raises
Post by: Sanguine on March 12, 2019, 01:45:43 am
Don't look forward too much to getting old.

There are downsides that more than compensate the upsides.

I'm enjoying myself so far.   happy77