The issue of firefighter overtime has been re-ignited after the release of local government payroll figures in California.
The latest sticker shock involves a San Diego firefighter earning nearly $240,000 after base pay last year. The same firefighter, who was disciplined for being drunk at a 2012 training session, also racked up $176,000 in overtime in 2014.
Because of overtime, firefighters historically place among the top tiers of public agencies' compensation.
A big chunk of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's budget goes to overtime pay.
But the rank-and-file say there’s more than meets the eye in the numbers.
"The city of San Diego's firefighters are the least compensated of any metro fire department in the state,” said Allan Arrollado, president of San Diego Firefighters Local 145.
“You couple that with Proposition B -- the 401(k)s -- and no death and disability benefits, and people that are hired and qualify can choose fire departments and they're not choosing the San Diego Fire Department as often as we like."
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For several years, because of severe understaffing, San Diego firefighters have been on mandatory overtime shifts, covering a chronic 10 percent vacancy in authorized positions.
While paying overtime used to be cheaper than hiring more staffers, city auditors say that's no longer true after pension reform savings.
But given low salaries and lack of traditional pensions and death and disability benefits, hiring hasn't been easy.
Taxpayer advocates say things seem to have reached that point where something has to give.
"It's a management and staffing issue at the city,” said Theresa Andrews, interim president and CEO of the San Diego County Taxpayers Assn. “The city is currently looking at their 2016 budget, and if this is a big issue, they need to be looking at their budget at where they can add more staff to the fire department ."
Meantime, firefighters say they've been disciplined with warnings and written reprimands -- even suspensions -- for refusing to work mandatory overtime..
Ironically, suspensions just add to the extra shifts that need to be covered.
