Flint firefighters’ next contract will be decided by a state board.
Last night, the Flint city council approved an alternative contract to the one the city’s emergency manager wants to impose on Flint firefighters.
Emergency Manager Darnell Earley’s proposed contract finds savings in benefit cuts, as well as a cap on retiree health care.
City Finance Director Jerry Ambrose has said the contract proposed by the emergency manager is needed to keep the city of Flint “solvent”.
The Flint city council approved alternative plan seeks similar savings from reducing overtime. The alternative plan was largely crafted by the city’s firefighter union.
Both proposals would save the city an estimated $600,000 annually.
“It’s a better proposal than the emergency manager’s as far as saving money,” says Councilman Scott Kincaid of the alternative plan. “Now it will be up to the loan board to decide which one they want.”
The State Emergency Loan Board will have the final say. The board’s decision is expected in January. The board’s options are simple: 1) accept the city council’s alternative plan or 2) reject the city council’s alternative plan, and accept the emergency manager’s contract.
