9% RAISE PROPOSAL FOR CITY FIREFIGHTERS STIRS HEATED DEBATE.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Even as Los Angeles officials look at layoffs and tax hikes in the face of a worsening budget crisis, the City Council plans to consider a proposal today to increase firefighters' pay by 9 percent over the next three years.

Opposition to the proposal, estimated to cost $13 million the first year and $43 million over the life of the contract, is expected as the council grapples with a shortfall expected to be as high as $300 million next year.

Although officials are looking at possibly reopening negotiations with police and other unions to slow some scheduled pay raises, Mayor James Hahn fully supports approving the raises for firefighters.

``We have already set aside money for this and have been negotiating over many months,'' Hahn said. ``It wouldn't be right to stop it now. I feel very strongly about public safety, and our firefighters did a fantastic job in October (wildfires) in protecting the Valley and the city.''

Because of technical issues, the council might delay a decision until Tuesday on the proposed increase, which is in line with similar pay increases granted to city employees over the past two years even as city government's financial condition worsened.

``It's a major inconsistency for us to consider this when we are looking to cut services (and) raise fees and looking at layoffs,'' said Councilman Bernard C. Parks, who chairs the council's Budget and Finance Committee.

``I can't support this. I think it sends a mixed message to the community on what we are doing. I don't know how we can go to Sacramento and ask for help, while we are looking at layoffs and reopening other contracts, and approve this at the same time.''

Councilman Dennis Zine, chairman of the council's Personnel Committee, defended the proposed increase for fire personnel.

``We need to treat the firefighters and paramedics fairly,'' Zine said. ``While we say the No. 1 issue is public safety, it would be unfair of us to cheat them out of a salary increase when we are approving them for everyone else.

``Firefighters are on the front line, and it would be hypocritical of us to not pay them what they deserve.''

The city's Personnel Department has begun briefings for department heads on procedures to be followed in planning for layoffs - such as preparing lists of workers, based on each one's seniority and job, to determine who could be released.

The firefighter proposal calls for a pay increase of 4 percent the first year, followed by increases of 3 percent and 2 percent in subsequent years. It is similar to what was approved for police officers this year.

Ted Nonini, a director of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the union representing some 3,400 firefighters and paramedics, said members are concerned about the delays but believe the increase is justified.

``If you look at us compared with other departments in the state, we are nowhere near the top 10 in pay and benefits,' Nonini said. ``Even with this, we still will be only in the top 20.''

Nonini said members are concerned the contract proposal will be tied up because of the budget issues.

``We are watching what is going on,'' Nonini said. ``But we also see that other workers, like the Police Department, received increases this year. We want to be treated the same.''

With city government in a financial squeeze that could deepen because of the state's multibillion-dollar budget deficit, Los Angeles officials are talking about reopening talks with police and other unions to delay some scheduled pay raises.

Money for the raises was included in this year's $5.1 billion city budget, but the budget figures have been hit hard by reductions in state funding - particularly with the rollback of the vehicle license fee.

Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger authorized that money to be provided, city officials say local government has still lost much of the state funding it had relied upon for this year's budget. In addition, Hahn and others are concerned about the governor's plans to permanently shift property tax funds to state government - taking the dollars away from city and county coffers.

Kris Vosburgh, executive director of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said approving such pay raises at this time would strain city officials' credibility with the public.

``This is not the time, with the current fiscal problems facing the state and city, to be authorizing long-term pay increases for anyone,'' Vosburgh said. ``It's hard to take officials seriously when they talk about budget problems and then approve a big increase.

``We all support firefighters, and they deserve to be paid well. But, right now, there has to be limits to what the taxpayers can provide. We aren't asking them to take cuts, but to hold the line at a time when a lot of people in the private sector are worried about having a job tomorrow.''

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com