Next year’s budget could break a longstanding tradition of pay parity between CFD and CMPD.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ Charlotte firefighters are sounding the alarm, warning they could be excluded from upcoming first responder pay raises โ and they’re urging city leaders to fix it before next year’s budget is finalized.
This would break a longstanding tradition of pay parity between firefighters and CMPD officers.
“We take care of the community, and we’re hopefully the community is going to take care of us,” Bohdan Fetisov said.
Fetisov joined Charlotte Fire a year and a half ago after leaving Ukraine. He says a raise is critical โ especially for newer firefighters like himself.
Mike Feneis, president of Charlotte Firefighters Association Local 660, says they’re struggling to recruit new firefighters like Fetisov due to low pay. He says he’s hearing next year’s budget could leave the department out of expected first responder pay raises, which would put a strain on the department.
“It could be more people are mandatory to come back to work overtime. It could be detrimental,” Feneis said. “So CMPD is not the only part of public safety, and that’s what we’re trying to make sure Council and the city manager understands that, that we are also part of public safety.”
The city has yet to propose its fiscal year 2027 budget, but many council members have already said public safety is a priority after multiple high-profile crimes over the last year.
On Flashpoint last month, Councilmember Dimple Ajmera noted the city is almost 300 officers short, adding, “if we want the best officers protecting our neighborhoods, we have to pay them like it matters.”
CMPD Chief Estella Pattersonย has called for a 10% salary increase. The fire chief has requested the same โ but firefighters say they’re worried that request won’t be honored.
“I’ll be frank, we’re struggling,” Feneis said. “I would say every one of my brothers and sisters behind me works a second and third job just to put food on the table.”
City Manager Marcus Jones is expected to unveil the budget proposal at the May 4 city council meeting.
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