It’s budget season around City Hall, when it’s not uncommon for members of different departments to request more money and more pay for their departments.
This is typically done in a subdued and understated manner. During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, however, several Milledgeville Fire Rescue firefighters decided to take a much less subdued and understated approach.
Battalion Chief David Ussery was one of several firefighters wearing red tee shirt with the phrase “WE ARE NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY” inscribed on the front. Ussery made an impassioned speech to council members.
The facts are clear! We are underpaid!” Ussery said. “During last week’s work session, I left feeling, Mayor (Mary Parham Copelan), disappointed, frankly insulted.”
Rashad Smith, a lieutenant with Milledgeville Fire Rescue, was more understated than Ussery, but he also spoke on the importance of better compensation for firefighters. Smith said that “we have lost great firefighters” who have chosen to leave for better pay at other fire departments.
“We work 24 hours, sometimes 48, to provide safety at all hours of the day and all hours of the night to serve our city,” Smith said. “We are away from our families. We don’t know if we’re coming home. We can at least provide more substantial financial support to our loved ones, just in case we have to give the greatest sacrifice to our community, which is our lives.”
Last month, MFR Chief William Collier brought up the issue of pay, telling council members that “we’re not competitive” with neighboring fire departments.
“Right now, there is roughly a $4,000 pay gap, with (Milledgeville Police Department) paid more than (Milledgeville Fire Rescue). That gap does not reflect the shared risks, the shared mission, the shared responsibility,” Collier said.
In the current 2027 fiscal year budget proposal, “overtime pay” for Milledgeville Fire Rescue would increase from $200,000 to $500,000.
Roughly a dozen MFR firefighters attended Tuesday’s meeting.
“Milledgeville Fire Rescue” is a more recent rebrand, and the department previously was known as the Milledgeville Fire Department.