COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Columbia-Richland Fire Department is hoping to implement some major changes to help with retention and recruitment.
The current starting salary for a firefighter in Richland is $34,900, which is 12% lower than in surrounding areas. However, with a new pay plan, the fire department could see raises and much more in the future.
In a meeting Tuesday afternoon, Columbia-Richland Fire Department leaders went before Columbia City Council to present a proposed compensation adjustment.
“I think people want to come to Columbia, they want to work here. However, we've just got to get more competitive in our pay," Chief Aubrey Jenkins said.
After losing staff over the course of the pandemic, Jenkins says his department is looking at new and creative ways to recruit and maintain what they already have.
“Some people just don't want to be in the fire service anymore, some people are not enticed to be in it, some people are being enticed to leave fire service altogether," Jenkins explained. "That's why we have to come up with more creative plans and make sure we are competitive."
The plan presented would be implemented in four phases and would take six months to implement altogether.
The first phase would address annual leave and allow employees to plan for long-term vacations a year in advance. And sick leave would be in use after 48 hours of calling out.
The department is hoping to use a part-time staffing system to help fill in the gaps as well and has proposed increased pay and a plan to show employees their salary as they move up in rank.
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann says the pay increases will come from taxpayer dollars but he’s hoping that some major entities within the city and county can help out.
"I do think the University and State Government and other folks who use our fire service need to contribute to that. You're talking about close to 300 different properties across the city that are owned between the state and the universities, and so it would be nice for them to contribute a little bit to that," Rickenmann said. "What I don't want is to go all on the backs of the people who have already been paying for it. Those who have not contributed need to do so."
These proposed raises would cost the city $1.48 million and Richland County $1.33 million.
Columbia City Council could hold a first reading on this plan in their next two meetings.
The next Columbia City Council meeting is April 18, and the next meeting after that is scheduled for May 2. The compensation plan update will have to go through three readings before being officially approved by the City Council.