Scottsdale City Council approves $1.6M increase to personnel costs this July
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Scottsdale City Council has given the green light for fire department officials to begin a step pay program as local leaders at City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., will look to replenish ranks and retain recruits in coming years.
Scottsdale City Council approved the step pay proposal — one that comes with an estimated cost increase of $1.6 million next fiscal year — Tuesday, Nov. 19 at City Hall.
Scottsdale City Council also approved a budget transfer of up to $800,000 from the Public Safety Pension Retirement System Pension fund balance to fund the new fire division personnel budget.
Furthermore, City Council approved changes to pay scales for a handful of senior administrative employees, records show.
“Fire departments across the country, much like law enforcement agencies, are facing challenges in recruitment and retention,” said Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson.
“With early retirements, resignations, and a shrinking pool of qualified applicants, fire departments are struggling to keep up with vacancies and the demands of modern fire service. This trend, which has impacted the Scottsdale Fire Department, poses significant operational challenges, including maintaining adequate staffing levels and ensuring that critical services remain uninterrupted.”
Mr. Thompson points out municipal employment in the first responder space has gotten more competitive in recent years.
“One key factor driving attrition in fire departments is the competitive job market, particularly among neighboring agencies offering higher pay and better benefits,” he said. “Firefighters, once trained and certified, become highly valuable assets, often targeted by other departments seeking to bolster their ranks. Without a competitive pay structure, Scottsdale Is at risk of losing these skilled professionals to neighboring municipalities, much like what has been observed in law enforcement.”
Mr. Thompson explains one-third of all Scottsdale Fire Department employees will be retired by July 1, 2025.
“A structured step plan for firefighter compensation would address these concerns by providing a clear, predictable path for salary increases and benefits over the course of a firefighter’s career,” he pointed out.
“This would not only help retain experienced personnel but also attract new candidates to the department. Training new firefighters is a costly and time-intensive process and losing them to other agencies shortly after they become fully trained and certified is a significant loss of Investment for the city.”
Following the municipal blessing of Scottsdale City Council, the new step pay program will be implemented in January 2025.
Part of Scottsdale City Council’s approval in late November 2024 includes the establishment of five salary grade classifications for new fire fighters. Those titles for the salary guide are:
- Firefighter recruit
- Firefighter
- Fire engineer
- Fire captain
- Fire battalion chief
- Fire chief deputy
- Fire chief assistant
- Fire chief
In summary the new pay program will offer a seven-step pay table for firefighters, a five-step pay table for fire engineers, and a three-step pay table for battalion chief, deputy chief, assistant chief, and chief.
Here is the pay schedule for fire fighters on file today at City Hall:
Scottsdale City Council approves $1.6M increase to personnel costs this July
Mr. Thompson explains the new step program will result in salary increases of 5% compounding for each step, except for between the rank of fire captain and battalion chief. But changes to the fire department salary schedule will have other impacts, records show.
“Along with the fire step plan, this action recommends approval of salary grade changes to the classifications listed below to resolve compression and structural alignment concerns,” Mr. Thompson explains. “This proposed step plan further highlights the current issues within the citywide classification structure.”
Those employee classifications that appear to be receiving a different salary program are:
- Assistant city manager — from pay grade 37 to 39
- Chief information officer — from pay grade 35 to 36
- City Clerk — From pay grade 36 to 37
- Communications and public affairs director – From pay grade 34 to 35
- Police chief assistant (civilian) — From pay grade 34 to 35
Looking for pay scales at the City of Scottsdale? Click HERE.
City officials estimate the annual increase of cost to the new fire step program will be an estimated $1.6 million whereas in the coming fiscal year — a financial calendar that typically begins every July 1 in municipal government — a budget adjustment of $800,000 from PSPRS will be needed for changes to employment pay scales, records show.
