Fire district board questions lack of raises

ARIZONA CITY – The Arizona City Fire District governing board has approved a proposed 5 percent increase for next year’s firefighter budget, but questioned the lack of raises for staff in light of the substatial pay increase recently given the chief.

Fire Chief Jeffrey Heaton told the board at its May 18 meeting the proposed 2016-17 budget draft must be posted in a local newspaper for 30 days, beginning around May 20. After the 30-day period the board votes to approve the final budget, and then submits it to the county by the end of June. The proposed budget can be viewed on the fire district’s website.

All board members voted in favor of the proposed budget.

Board members Roger Taylor and Betty Harding expressed concern about the proposed increase being without firefighter/EMT pay raises, during discussion prior to the vote approval.

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