The Village Center Community Development District has offered to spend $1.56 million next year on additional pay and benefits for firefighters.
The offer was presented Monday morning by the VCCDD’s attorney, Jeffrey Mandel, to representatives of the Professional Firefighters of The Villages, IAFF 4770 who met in a bargaining session at Colony Cottage Recreation Center.
Mandel appeared upbeat and eager to get “the entire package” settled.
The three-year contract would boost starting pay for firefighters with the Villages Public Safety Department.
The following starting salaries were proposed:
• EMTs – $36,000, an 8 percent increase
• Paramedics – $48,500, an 11 percent increase
• Lieutenants – $56,000, a 10.8 percent increase
Mandel also said the offer includes a 3 percent pay increase, each year during the life of the contract.
The proposed package includes incentives for longevity.
Those with the Villages Public Safety Department for four to eight years would see an additional increase of 2.5 percent. Those with longer service with the department will seen an additional 5.5 percent pay increase.
A chief concern expressed by the 81-member union has been turnover within the department.
Union representatives reviewed the offer and presented some changes which the district is reviewing.
“We are hoping to meet again early next month for what we hope could be an agreement,” said Eric Williamson, secretary of Local 4770.
