October 7, 2025 4:48pm EDT
Newsom vetoes firefighter pay raise months after California's most expensive wildfire
California entry-level firefighters earn a starting salary of $54,122
By Amanda Macias FOXBusiness
Less than a year after the most expensive and devastating wildfire in state history, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bipartisan bill that sought to raise salaries for California’s state firefighters.
Newsom wrote in a letter on Oct. 3 that he vetoed the bill because it would cost the state too much money and interfere with the normal way employee pay is negotiated.
"While I appreciate the author's intent, this bill would create significant cost pressures for the state and circumvent the collective bargaining process," Newsom wrote.
"Establishing a statutory floor for employees of a single department undermines this process, to the detriment of both the state and other bargaining units," he added.
Newsom's office did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.
Assembly Bill 1309 proposed the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as CAL FIRE, maintain firefighter pay within 15% of the average compensation for comparable ranks at 20 designated local fire agencies statewide.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, entry-level firefighters earn a starting salary of $54,122. By comparison, the Los Angeles Fire Department lists its starting salary at $85,315.
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https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/newsom-vetoes-firefighter-pay-raise-months-after-californias-most-expensive-wildfire
