The shorter workweek for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue will cost county taxpayers nearly $10 million.
County officials, struggling to produce a balanced budget, have been asked to approve a $9.6 million bill to cover the cost of the change. County commissioners agreed in November to reduce the workweek to 42 hours from 48. This is only the first phase of hiring that will include funds for 94 employees. The total new hires over the next three years is expected to be 148.
County Fire Rescue Chief Patrick Kennedy said at the time that the change was needed to retain staff and reduce fatigue, noting that the 48-hour workweek was not desirable “from a mental health perspective.” Despite working fewer hours each week, the firefighters’ pay was not reduced.
The change is expected to occur on Jan. 1, 2027, but commissioners can delay the start date to that April. When the change won approval in November, there was no discussion about the fiscal impact of the shorter workweek.
That talk finally occurred on May 20 during a budget workshop meeting when Fire Rescue requested the supplemental appropriation in the new spending plan under consideration by the county. The $9.6 million, it said, were needed to cover costs associated with the switch.
Added value: $5 billion in new construction to be added to Palm Beach County tax rolls
Commissioners could delay shorter workweek until April 2027
The department says it needs to start hiring new firefighters. It also needs 94 sets of specially designed fire clothing, which will cost $531,000. Numerous promotions will need to happen to supervise new employees.
According to Fire Rescue, other departments, including Palm Beach Gardens, have also moved to a shorter workweek. Like the county, Palm Beach Gardens approved a contract that calls for a 24-hour shift and provides 72 hours off. The starting salary for a county firefighter/first responder is $57,173 and tops out at $102,680 for a veteran of 12 or more years.
The additional expense comes at a time when County Administrator Verdenia Baker has already asked Sheriff Ric Bradshaw to reduce his budget by $20 million. Presidential security costs of $45 million have forced budget officials to make significant cuts to balance the county’s spending.
Prior to President Donald Trump taking office, deputies incurred more than 100,000 hours of overtime protecting him. And the overtime has significantly increased since then.
Palm Beach County scrambles to balance budget amid rising costs
The county is expected to use some of its surplus funds to help meet expenses, but budget officials are concerned that move could imperil the county’s AAA bond rating. The Parks Department is considering charging youth organizations a fee to use athletic fields, a proposal that has already drawn pushback.
Fire-Rescue spokesperson Tara Cardoso said there are no plans to mitigate the impact of the shorter week, noting it was approved and steps have been taken to prepare for it. County officials were not immediately available to comment on whether they might push back the start until April 2027.
Fire Rescue is its own taxing unit. Based on its expenses and revenues, it sets its own millage or property tax rate. Its budget does not undergo the same scrutiny by county officials as other departments. Still, county commissioners must approve Fire Rescue’s budget and any supplemental appropriation requests.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Taxpayer cost for shorter PBC Fire Rescue work week is $9.6 million