By Leila Merrill
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Meridian Township board members voted Tuesday to raise firefighter-paramedics’ starting salary by almost 10% — from $44,209.33 to $48,579.83, the Lansing State Journal reported. The raises go into effect July 1.
“The number one responsibility we have in this community is to keep it safe, whether that is someone who goes into cardiac arrest or rescuing a young child in a pool who’s unresponsive,” Meridian Township Manager Frank Walsh said Wednesday. “We have to make sure that we can maintain the proper staffing to protect this community, and we will continue to do that.”
In addition to eliminating the bottom tier of the firefighter-paramedic salary schedule, the 10 firefighters in the department who have four years or less seniority will see their annual pay go up one level. Firefighters with at least five years’ experience will retain an additional 1.5% increase granted previously for their 2023 base compounded, according to a memo from Walsh to the board.
The pay increases will cost about $55,000, which will come out of the general fund until it can be budgeted for 2023, Walsh said.