City Of West Palm Beach: City Administrator Johnson: Fire Fees Support Valued Fire Services For The Public's Safety

West Palm Beach FL

10 August, 2021

10:21 AM

Description

Press release from the City of West Palm Beach: 08/09/2021 4:29 PM VIDEO: City Administrator Faye Johnson presents on the usage of fire free funds during a Budget Work Session on August 4, 2021. (Click here to watch the video) WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (August 9, 2021) -- At the Budget Work Session on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, City Administrator Faye Johnson affirmed that funds from the Fire Service Assessed Cost ("fire fees") support the city's fire safety initiatives and that expenditures have been legal, proper and in line with City Code (Ordinance 4141-08). In delivering her presentation, City Administrator Johnson rebutted inaccurate claims of funds 'misuse' made by the International Associations of Fire Fighters (IAFF).  Although the city and IAFF had reached a tentative agreement on a historic successor collective bargaining contract, which includes an unprecedented 5% - 10% market adjustment plus 5% anniversary step pay, the IAFF has continued to wage a calculated misinformation campaign designed to confuse the public and pressure city leaders. The union continues to put forth the false narrative that the city is 'misusing' fire fees. During the Budget Work Session, the City Administrator refuted the union's deceptive and untrue claim of fire fee funds 'misuse.' Ms. Johnson affirmed the city's proposed uses, as well as past uses, are indeed legal, compliant with city code, and appropriate. Additionally, the Deputy City Attorney who drafted the ordinance affirmed the city's fire fee expenditures comply with the ordinance. Ms. Johnson carefully identified the specific provisions in the ordinance that authorized each specific category of expenditure including personnel services, materials and services, internal services charges, capital outlay, transfers for debt service costs, and transfers for capital outlay.   This press release was produced by the City of West Palm Beach. The views expressed here are the author's own.