Montrose - Daily Press

MONTROSE — Local firefighters will see a pay bump despite objections from one board member.

The Montrose Fire Protection District board approved a 3-percent pay raise in its 2010 budget in a 2-1 vote Thursday evening, with two board members absent.

"I had a real hard time justifying a cost-of-living increase of any type when the Denver-Boulder Price Index was negative," board member James Haugsness said. "It was an additional $77,000 to the budget."

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The district's total 2010 budget is about $5.1 million with projected revenues at $5.4 million. The approved budget includes $65,242 for the district's career staff pay increase and $11,334 for administration, Haugsness said.

The district has "good reserves going into the future" to add a third fire station, as well as expand on its training area at its second station, he said. However, it was the fact that an increase was given when the cost of living hasn't risen that turned Haugsness' thumbs down.

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Comments

holly wrote on Oct 25, 2009 1:04 PM:

" most americans and montrose citizens , work long hard hours our lives and time is no less important than any others. i can look at it objectively, coming from a family with numerous immediate family members being law enforcement and or military. and although i support wholeheartedly their sacrifices a raise at this time is simply not apporpriate. families homes are in foreclosure, unemployment is skyrocketing, breadwinners of the family are getting laid off and they ALL need assistance. a raise?? they should just be thankful at this point they have ANY paycheck.. "




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well wrote on Oct 23, 2009 11:16 AM:

" I believe that the firefighters deserve the raises, but that Congress shouldn't be allowed to vote themselves raises. It should be up to the American people to decide. What you say? "




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Alice Ann wrote on Oct 23, 2009 8:23 AM:

" The issue is not about whether firefighters deserve a pay raise or not. It is about the District's Board making prudent budget decisions based on current economic conditions as well as overseeing proper use of tax money. Sadly, only Mr Haugsness understood and had the fortitude to fulfill his responsibilities. "




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In the muck wrote on Oct 23, 2009 7:20 AM:

" Firemen, Law enforcement and Emergency Services personnel do a tough job. They also have a responsibility to be good stewards of the taxpayers money. The Sheriffs Office has left numerous positions unfilled in order to save money. Montrose PD is using furloughs and delayed hiring to save. Why is the Fire Department not following suit? "




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patrick wrote on Oct 22, 2009 10:44 PM:

" Some people will just never know the stress's of being a firefighter Police officer or a member of the military. there is no use explaining it. we are taught how to deal with them "




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Fired up again wrote on Oct 22, 2009 9:14 PM:

" So are you saying that it isn't relevant to ask about the performance and ethics of a Fire chief who's salary we pay? It isn't relevant to government spending to make sure that the Board who's responsibility it is to represent us, is holding people accountable? I find it hard to believe that Haugness can speak out about pay raises- but not about harassment within the company. "




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Intrigued wrote on Oct 22, 2009 2:53 PM:

" The last time I checked having an opinion wasn't being negative- its what makes us a democracy "friend". And by the way, lets look into some of these things community! Don't speak up and not act! Your voice is part of your right as a taxpayer to participate! "




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friend of MFPD wrote on Oct 21, 2009 9:07 PM:

" I would like to see some of the negative bloggers scrape a body up off the highway, or administer mouth to mouth to someone foaming at the mouth, or better yet, go into a burning building or compromising situation with them only concerned with the victim's well being and their property, not their own lives...that deserves a raise in my book! "




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friend of MFPD wrote on Oct 21, 2009 9:01 PM:

" Hey, "fired up", sounds like you have a personal vendetta against the fire chief and do not make sense about this issue of raises. Any business person knows in order to keep skilled workers in position at any job, wages must be competitive within the industry.
So "fired up", cool down against the chief. "




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Just sayin wrote on Oct 21, 2009 5:44 PM:

" If anyone deserves a raise, it's firefighters, military, and law enforcement. For the person who thinks teachers should be paid more, when they teach reading, writing, and arithmetic it should be considered. When they are teaching diversity, sex-ed, socialism, and revised history, they don't even deserve what they now make. You know the saying: Those who can do, those who can't teach! "




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Fired up wrote on Oct 21, 2009 11:54 AM:

" Why not ask who your fire chief is as a boss? Is he worthy of his job after being written up by the board, let alone a pay raise? And what he has done at board meetings? And why one company gets their Christmas party every year- and why one company gets their construction bids? What relationship does their attorney have with the fire chief??? Ask the right questions- look at their spending, not the money paid to hard working heros. "




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Here it comes wrote on Oct 21, 2009 11:20 AM:

" Montrose County recently chose NOT to give cost of living or performance awards to county employees. Labor is generally the highest expense of operating a service based business (fire or law enforcement) to the tune of about 80%. So giving even a modest cost of living increase in this economic environment seems to be a bad idea. "




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Sharon wrote on Oct 20, 2009 3:33 PM:

" You deserve a whole lot more! I can say this even with my husband unemployed. The fire department has been there many timed for my family and I thank you! "




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Taxed Payer wrote on Oct 20, 2009 1:54 PM:

" Supporter - How much is their life worth??? 200K, half a million? why not pay them that? everybody should make that, right? The fact is, the local economy is in the tank, the people that pay these saleries haven't had a pay increase in 2 to 3 years, if they even still have a job. It is irresponible to give government employees increase pay when the tax payers are squeezed to the max. "




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Jennie wrote on Oct 20, 2009 12:12 PM:

" you want to know about the bucks. it's a public government. you can ask to see the budget and salary lists but you gotta know they do good work "




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Supporter wrote on Oct 19, 2009 11:36 PM:

" So, don't trash the peolple that are going to save your life. You are all pretty selfish, you will cry when these guys/gals are not there pulling you out of a fire, accidents, etc., but when they get a raise watch out. How much is their life worth? Much more than they are getting paid now even with the raise. Don't be so selfish. "




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Tammy wrote on Oct 19, 2009 10:25 PM:

" These are the men and women that will be there for you in you and your families worst times. They work long hours, and unless you have done what they have, and seen what they have seen you have no idea what they and their families go through. They spend hours upon hours training, and studying; so they can be there for YOU in your time of need. Your tax dollars are being spent wisely when it comes to this area, It is selfish to want other people to suffer just because the "rest" of the economy is. "




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citizen wrote on Oct 19, 2009 5:23 PM:

" Sammy, watch what you say about the people that might be the ones saving your life one day!

i'm just sayin "




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George wrote on Oct 19, 2009 4:25 PM:

" Our local fire fighters salaries start out around $52,000 a year and go up to the Chief's some where around $110,000 a year. Good thing we gave them a raise this year. When the tax base is shrinking, inflation in negative, and unemployment is at a 20 year high. The fire board begged all of us to raise our taxes to build new fire stations, but it seams that all we are getting is highly paid fighters, that still can’t find a fire hydrant behind a bush. "




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Brian wrote on Oct 19, 2009 8:28 AM:

" So you think that education and public safety are ripoffs huh? Well the next time you need a police officer don't call one since they are a huge ripoff. And education a huge part of our country. In my opinon public school teachers do not get paid nearly enough for what they do. "




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just me wrote on Oct 18, 2009 6:07 PM:

" I have not the MDP write a story on the pay increase for county employee's.

Must of got by them or something hang in there city people!!!!!! "




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OldGrannyLady wrote on Oct 18, 2009 3:10 PM:

" 'Bout time!

Now, raise the salaries for the cops and the teachers and knock out 25% of upper management jobs. "




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Taxpayer wrote on Oct 18, 2009 8:05 AM:

" When stories about pay raises for government employees are reported, I think it is important to tell the reader how much the people are making, so the taxpayer can have a better idea how their taxes are being spent. "




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agreed wrote on Oct 17, 2009 7:31 PM:

" 100% wrong Atleast we know where our tax money goes "




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Sammy wrote on Oct 17, 2009 5:18 PM:

" Great, as we all are suffering and struggling, the firefighters get a pay raise. I suppose we a firefighter Pay Czar. "




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robert wrote on Oct 17, 2009 3:32 PM:

" don't get me wrong i support law enforcement, hospitals, and firefighters. but with montrose residents losing jobs and city workers having to take unpaid furlough days this was wrong. end of story. "




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peter cassidy wrote on Oct 17, 2009 1:04 PM:

" my caller id did not show any call from the press in the last 2 days. "




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