County Executive Jan Gardner (D) has announced a nearly 8 percent pay raise for the county’s career firefighters and EMTs, starting Oct. 26.
In an email to acting Fire Chief Tom Coe and county firefighters — including Stephen Jones, president of the Career Firefighters Association of Frederick County Local 3666, the county’s career firefighter union — Gardner said the raise was to help the county remain competitive with other jurisdictions and show her appreciation to the department.
The pay raise comes as the county and firefighters union continue negotiations as a result of the binding arbitration amendment passed in November 2018 known as Question D. Gardner said, however, that the raises aren’t connected to those contract negotiations.