Depending on what’s included in the calculation, Warwick firefighters may not have had the highest average wage of firefighters in Rhode Island in 2021.
That’s the conclusion of City Finance Director Peder Schaefer reached after reviewing what went into the report prepared by the Rhode Island Expenditure Council and reported in last Thursday’s Beacon. The report found Warwick firefighters were paid an average of $95,207 as compared to East Greenwich, the second highest paid firefighters at $86,798. Cranston firefighters made an average of $71,550.
In a letter dated Jan. 24 to Mayor Frank Picozzi, Schaefer says RIPEC’s calculations are consistent with the information the city provided for Fiscal Year 2021. “$17.3 million in compensation divided by 182 firefighters equals $95,207.”