Las Vegas officials OK Fire Department study over union’s objections

Las Vegas officials approved an outside review of the city's Fire Department on Wednesday aimed at improving service and efficiency but only after hearing accusations the study is a waste of money meant to undermine union firefighters' position in a labor contract impasse.

The proposed study by the International City/County Managers Association would cost $155,000 and has been the subject of controversy since firefighters got wind of it.

Dean Fletcher, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1285, said studies by the group "are done throughout the U.S. to dismantle fire departments."

City management and the firefighters union are locked in an impasse over a pending two-year labor contract. Fletcher said city officials hope to use study results for leverage in the stalemate.

"It is the city of Las Vegas that declared impasse and walked away from the table, not your firefighters," Fletcher told the council.

Because the group doing the study is a professional association for managers, Fletcher said, it could deliver results weighted to favor management.

The city's 2013 budget includes $96 million in salaries, wages and benefits for the Fire Department. The firefighters' latest two-year contract offer would cost $12.3 million more than management wants to spend, city officials say.

A city study of employee pay released in 2010 showed the average Las Vegas firefighter makes $68,609 annually, which was about 7 percent higher than the average rate for comparable cities in California, Washington, Texas, Oregon and Colorado. The same study showed trainees made an average of $43,115, about 12 percent above average; firefighter paramedics earned an average of $83,086, about 4 percent above average; and deputy fire marshals averaged $110,166, which was in line with other departments surveyed.

Backers of the new study, including City Manager Betsy Fretwell and public safety chief Karen Coyne, rebutted Fletcher, saying an outside evaluation is necessary.

"We have the best Fire Department. We are in the top five. I would like to stay there," Fretwell said. "There is only one way to stay there: to continue to improve what we do."

Council members engaged in an extensive debate before voting 5-1, with one abstention, in favor of the study, which is expected to be finished in 90 days.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.