Grand Rapids Fire Department, Michigan, 2008-2011
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The Grand Rapids Fire Department in Grand Rapids, Michigan was comprised of 235 personnel as of its 2010 Annual Report.[1]
Salaries
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking salary information for the years 2008-2011 for members of the Grand Rapids Fire Department, particularly ranking officers. According to data provided by the department, the following salary ranges came into effect in 2009.[2]
- Fire fighters earn a salary range of $38,269 - $58,467
- Fire Equipment Operator earns a salary of $62,178
- Fire Inspectors earn a salary range of $62,178 - $67,245
- Fire Instructors earn a salary of $69,290
- Fire Captains earn a salary of $71,333
- Battalion Fire Chiefs earn a salary up to $76,027
- Battalion Fire Chief earns a salary of $72,718
- Deputy Fire Chiefs earn a salary up to $90,642
- Deputy Fire Chief Laura Knapp (now fire chief) earns a salary of $86,698
- Fire Chief Robert Vansolkema earns a salary of $117,364
According to Salary.com, the average salary for the Grand Rapids Fire Department was $41,514 as of 2011.[3]
Benefits
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking benefits information for the years 2008 - 2011 for employees of the Grand Rapids Fire Department. Although the city did not send a breakdown of the benefits it offers to its employees, they provided a breakdown of benefits offered to the fire chief, the deputy fire chief and the battalion fire chief.[4]
- Fire Chief Robert Vansolkema spent $12,349 for health costs in 2010.
- Deputy Fire Chief Laura Knapp (now acting fire chief) spent $13,032 for health costs in 2010.
- Battalion Fire Chief Barton Perry spent 13,032 for health costs in 2010.
Car use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking information on the number of take-home vehicles issued by the department to its employees. According to a city memo, the City of Grand Rapids Fire Department had 8 vehicles assigned for 24-hour use as of 2011.[5]
Phone use
Sunshine Review filed a public records request seeking information on the number of cellular and mobile devices issued by the department to its employees. According to a city memo, the department issued 21 cell phones to employees.[6] In January 2011 the city spent $56.05 for the fire chief's cell phone charges.[7]
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[8] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[8] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[8]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
See also
- Michigan local government salary: Counties
- Public employee salary
- Grand Rapids Police Department, Michigan
- Grand Rapids employee salaries
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ GRFD 2010 Annual Report
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ Salary.com, "Fire Fighter Salary Details," November 10, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 28, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 1, 2011
- ↑ City of Grand Rapids, Response to FOIA Request, June 28, 2011
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
