Battle Heats up Over Firefighter Pay in St. Johns County

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- Sabough Kahayan is a hard working taxpayer in St. Johns County.

"Safety is first. Safety is first," he says. Kahayan wants the assurance if there is an emergency at his home, there will be firefighters around to help.

That is why Kahayan is all for giving firefighters the raise promised in their union contract.

"We are being placed in the blame, and it's not our fault," says local Union President Mike Carter.

Carter says firefighters agreed to give up a little last year in order to get paid in the future. "For them to sign a contact that says, 'ya'll do this now, we'll do this for the future,' we are moving into the future. We would like for them to keep their word."

Carter says the firefighters are willing to give up that three percent raise under one condition. "If they guarantee none of the firefighters will be laid-off. We've approached them, and they won't put it in writing for us."

County Commissioner Cyndi Stevenson says, "We asked them to join together. They are not willing to be team players here."

Stevenson says the whole county is giving up raises in order to balance the budget. An increase in property tax would help; firefighters support the tax.

Also supporting that tax are some of those who would foot the bill, like Kahayan. "Instead of fixing roads, we might as well pay them."

It's not clear right now how much money taxpayers would have to pay. There is a meeting on the issue Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the County Administration building.

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