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Home My WebLink About66-25 2026 Firefighter Salary Ordinance ** City of South Bend * 1111\ Common Council * 141 County-City Building • 227 W.Jellcrson Blvd * South Bend, Indiana 46601 * September 17, 2025 Cain►etl' Lee Filed in Clerk's Office President Sheila Nieizgodski Rachel Tomas Morgan South Bend Common Council Vice President Bianca Tirado 4th Floor, County-City Building City Clerk, South Bend, IN Troy\Vanier Chairperson, Committee South Bend, IN 46601 of the Whole Re: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE Canneth Lee CITYOF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY First District AND MONETARY FRINGE BENEFITS OF SWORN MEMBERS OF <)phclia Gooden-Rodgers THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CALENDAR YEAR Second District 2026 Sharon L. McBride Dear Chairperson Niezgodski: Third District On behalf of Council Members Karen White, Ophelia Gooden Rodgers and myself, Troy Warner as the Council's advisory members participating in the negotiations with the South Bend Firefighters, I am submitting the attached draft ordinance for filing. This Fourth District ordinance sets forth the salary and other financial considerations provided to the Sherry Bolden-Simpson Firefighters in their contract. Fifth District This draft includes salaries that are effective in 2025, not 2026. This is because, although there is a tentative agreement on the table,that agreement has not yet been Sheila Niezgodski ratified. This filing will allow first reading on September 22,2025. A substitute bill Sixth District with the new compensation plan will be filed before second reading and public Dr. Oliver Davis hearing on October 13,2025. At Large Please file this proposed ordinance for first reading on September 22,2025 to be assigned to the Personnel and Finance Committee for second reading and public Rachel'Tomas Morgan hearing on October 13,2025. At Large Thank you for your consideration. Karen I.. White At Large Sincerely yours, f'fd-a- ( s& Canneth Lee, President, South Bend Common Council ...... (57 1) 23 5-9321• Fax(57 1) 235-9173 •TDI) (57 1) 235-5567 • http://www.southbcndin.gov Filed in Clerk's Office BILL NO. 66-25 Bianca Tirado ORDINANCE NO. City Clerk, South Bend, IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, FIXING THE ANNUAL PAY AND MONETARY FRINGE BENEFITS OF SWORN MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The South Bend Common Council, pursuant to Indiana Code § 36-8-3-3 (d) is charged with establishing, before November 1'of each year, the annual compensation of the South Bend Fire Department. The City of South Bend and the South Bend Firefighters' Association Local No. 362 of the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO have successfully negotiated a collective bargaining agreement for the 2026 calendar year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026. This ordinance fixes the annual pay and salaries of the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department, including salaries for upper level policy making positions in the department as defined in Indiana Code § 36-8-1-12, and other monetary fringe benefits. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, as follows: Section I. Recognition. The South Bend Common Council recognizes the negotiating team which represents the South Bend Firefighters' Association Local No. 362 of the International Association of Firefighters,AFL-CIO, as the sole bargaining agent for the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department for purposes of negotiating annual pay, monetary fringe benefits and other monetary items which are addressed in this ordinance, excepting the Fire Chief, the Assistant Fire Chiefs, and the Battalion Chiefs, who are governed by Indiana Code §.36-8-1-12. Section II. Annual Maximum Salaries. (a) Definitions: For purposes of this ordinance, "Salary Classifications" mean Categories for salary and annual pay purposes only. "Rank" does not mean salary classification. (b) Annual Pay for Sworn Members of the South Bend Fire Department: Maximum annual pays for the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department,including upper level policy making positions defined by Indiana Code§ 36-8-1-12 for calendar year 2026 shall be set as follows: Salary Classification 2026 Fire Chief $129,920.80 Assistant Chief $109,306.00 Battalion Chief $94,330.75 Captain $82,746.20 Inspector(Non-Rank) $82,746.20 Investigator(Non-Rank) $82,746.20 Instructor(Non-Rank) $82,746.20 Community Paramedic $82,746.20 Pump Engineer(Non-Rank) $78,984.45 Paramedic Lt(Non-Rank) $76,746.88 Firefighter Pt Class $75,223.73 Firefighter 2nd Class $66,793.10 Fire Recruit(Civilian) $57,400.00 Section III. Additional Areas of Compensation. (a) Maximum Amounts. All monetary amounts set forth in this ordinance shall be the Maximum amounts permitted in each calendar year addressed. (b) City of South Bend Residency Incentives. Qualifying sworn members and upper level policy making positions of the South Bend Fire Department, who establish and maintain legal residence within any neighborhood within the City of South Bend city limits and reside on a continuous permanent basis within the South Bend city limits, and comply with the governing regulations for such compliance shall be entitled to the following bonuses on or before December 15 of the applicable year:: 2026: $2,500 maximum payable Said bonus amounts shall be pro-rated in the event that a qualifying sworn member or upper level policy making person moves into the South Bend city limits after the beginning of the calendar year or moves out of the South Bend city limits during a calendar year. Section IV. Specialty Pay. (a) EMS Incentives. Monetary incentives and seat pay shall be paid to the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department who meet the Fire Department's requirements and are assigned to perform such special duties which are verified by the department. Unless indicated otherwise, all specialty pay shall be prorated to the date of the regular assignment for such specialty duty or duties and paid accordingly. A qualifying sworn member performing any of the following specialties shall be paid at the highest certification/licensing only. Assignment 2026 6Field Training Officer(FTO) $850 Lead Paramedic Incentive $2,500 Emergency Medical Responder $250 EMT - Basic $350 EMT—Adv. $900 EMT - Paramedic $900 Basic EMT Assigned $3,000 Advanced EMT Assigned $4,500 Paramedic Assigned $9,000 (b) Special Operation Team Specialty Pay. The following specialty pay shall be paid to the sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department who meet the Fire Department's requirements for each specialty and who are regularly assigned to perform such special duties. All specialty pay shall be prorated to the date of regular assignment for such special duty or duties and paid accordingly. The following Special Operation Team Specialty Pay are established: Type of Special Operation Team 2026 Hazardous Materials Team Response Team Member $1,200 Team Leader $400 Swift Water Rescue Team Scuba Diver $1,200 Specialist $1,200 Technician $500 Team Leader $400 Tactical Rescue Team Response Team Member $1,200 Team Leader $400 Honor Guard Team Leader $400 (c) LEP Specialty Pay: A Limited English Proficiency(LEP) Program overseen by the City's Human Resources Director or their designee shall monitor the Department's requirements. All qualifying sworn members who maintain fluency in additional languages other than English, and who are regularly assigned to perform LEP duties shall be paid the following specialty pay in a lump sum in the last payroll in December of each year of such assignment: 2026 Limited English Proficiency(LEP) $800 (d) Payment of Specialty Pays/Seat Pay: Unless indicated otherwise, specialty pay and seat pay shall be paid on a bi-weekly basis. Section V. Recall of Duty Pay and Emergency Duty Pay. (a) In the event that a sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department is recalled for duty, and he or she reports for duty,he or she shall be paid at the rate of two(2)times the sworn member's hourly rate of pay and shall be guaranteed a minimum of two (2) hours of work with pay. Any additional fraction of an hour over thirty(30) minutes shall constitute one(1)hour for purposes of this paragraph. (b) A sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department who works emergency duty shall be paid at the rate of two(2)times the sworn member's hourly rate and shall be guaranteed a minimum of four(4)hours of work or pay. (c) In the event that a sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department is called to work emergency duty for extra-alarm fires or disasters, seniority provisions will not apply. Recall will be in accordance with procedures outlined in the official orders governing the dispatching of South Bend Fire Department units for extra-alarm fire or disasters. In any emergency where personnel with specialized skills are needed, seniority or procedural terms described in a Collective Bargaining Agreement governing extra-duty or recall are not applicable. The Fire Chief or his or her authorized designee may specify which off-duty personnel with specialized skills, including but not limited to sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Team, Swift Water Rescue Team, Tactical Rescue Team, or with needed medical specialties. Section VI. Working Out of Classification Pay. If a sworn member of the South Bend Fire Department is temporarily assigned as a Battalion Chief, Captain, Paramedic or Pump Engineer, that sworn member shall be paid while so performing such duties at the rate of pay for that position, provided that the duty assignment is for a minimum of four(4) consecutive hours as verified by a Working Out of Classification form, as verified by the officer of the rig or the Battalion Chief Section VII. Longyity Pay. (a) The Common Council hereby continues a longevity program for qualifying sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department. (b) Qualifying sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department holding the rank of First Class Firefighter and above, who are employed by the South Bend Fire Department shall receive additional compensation in recognition of the cumulative years of service on the South Bend Fire Department. For the purposes of Longevity Pay described in this subsection, "Years of Service" shall be calculated from the date on which a firefighter was sworn in and accrue upon the passing of the anniversary of said date. Such longevity pay shall be earned upon completion of the number of years indicated below, paid in a lump sum in the last payroll period in December, and shall be attributed to the annual salary base for pension purposes. Longevity pay shall be as follows: Cumulative Years of Service on SBFD: Longevity Pay 2026 5-9 Years of Service $300 10-14 Years of Service $600 15-19 Years of Service $1,900 20-24 Years of Service $3,400 25+Years of Service $10,000 (c) Qualifying sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department holding the designation of "Lead" on the Ambulance in the South Bend Fire Department shall receive additional compensation in recognition of the cumulative years of service, earned upon completion of the number of years indicated below, calculated from a firefighter's designation as a "Lead." Such longevity pay shall be divided into bi-weekly payments over the year. Longevity pay shall be as follows: Longevity Pay 2026 0-1 Year of Service $550 2-4 Years of Service $1,200 5-8 Years of Service $1,800 9+Years of Service $2,400 Section VIII. Station Allowance. The South Bend Common Council shall budget a total monetary amount for a line-item station allowance which incorporates realignment so that the concerns of the smaller and older fire stations will be addressed and that minimum needed purchases can be made with proper approval. The amount per station shall be as follows from this line-item: Station Number 2026 #1 $2,850 #2 $1,250 #3 $1,250 #4 $1,250 #5 $850 #6 $1,250 #7 $1,250 #8 $850 #9 $850 #10 $1,250 #11 $1,250 Needed station purchases shall be approved by a majority vote of the assigned sworn members at each fire station and shall be submitted by each House Captain for review, approval and purchase by the Fire Chief and the City Controller. Such monies may not be carried over from year to year and must be used by December 31" of each calendar year. Section IX. Other Monetary Benefits. (a) Safety Officers. The regularly assigned Safety Officers shall receive, in addition to his or her base salary, the sum of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500) in calendar year 2026. (b) 8-Hour Incentive Pay. An 8-hour Incentive Pay shall continue to be paid to those individuals regularly assigned to work a forty (40) hour workweek, not including temporary duty assignments (TDY). The sum of One Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Four Dollars ($1,154) shall be paid to such qualifying individuals in the calendar year 2026. (c) Inspector/Instructor Pay. Those First-Class Firefighters who are qualified and regularly assigned, not including temporary duty assignments (TDY), as an Inspector/Instructor, shall be provided with duty shirts and a badge, and shall be paid at the non-rank specialty pay as an Inspector or Instructor. (d) Shift Instructor Pay. Shift Instructors who are qualified and selected to teach on-duty in- house instruction programs for rookie schools, driving, confined space rescue, rope techniques, water safety, watercraft techniques, CPR, and other authorized department instruction, shall be paid at the rate of Fifteen Dollars($15)per hour up to a maximum of Five Hundred Dollars($500) per year, with any teaching thereafter requiring the approval of the Fire Chief, or his or her designee. Full-time instructors and company training instructors shall be ineligible for any pay under this paragraph. (e) Luther J. Taylor, Sr. Fire Safety Training Center 8-Hour Instructor Pay. An 8-hour Instructor Pay shall be paid to the individual regularly assigned to work a forty (40) hour workweek, not including temporary duty assignments (TOY), at the Luther J. Taylor, Sr. Fire Safety Training Center. The sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) shall be paid per year in 2026 to the qualifying individual who is regularly assigned to work in this capacity each of those years. (f) Pay for Other Instructors. Other instructors who are qualified and selected to teach specified on-duty in-house instruction programs for rookie schools,driving,confined space rescue, rope techniques, water safety, watercraft techniques, CPR and other authorized departmental instruction, shall be paid at the rate of Fifteen Dollars($15)per hour,upon the approval of the Fire Chief, or his or her designee. Said hourly rate shall be paid over and above the qualifying individual's salary classification and shall be paid in a manner consistent with applicable regulations of the State Board of Accounts. Full-time instructors and company training instructors shall be ineligible for any pay under this paragraph. (g) Pay for Certified SCBA Repair Specialists. Those sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department who are qualified, certified and regularly assigned by the Fire Chief, or his or her designee to perform self-contained breathing apparatus(SCBA)repairs, shall be paid at the rate of Fifteen Dollars ($15) per hour up to a maximum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) in any one calendar year. (h) Critical Duty Day Stipends. In 2026, the Critical Duty Day Stipend shall be set at one-half (1/2) of an eligible sworn member's regular hourly rate plus longevity, but not less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300) for the ten (10) Critical Duty Days which are designated each calendar year by the Board of Public Safety. Such stipend may be pro-rated for time actually worked with the eligible sworn member choosing among three (3) options which are further addressed in the governing Collective Bargaining Agreement approved by the Board of Public Safety. (i) Deferred Compensation. The City of South Bend agrees to continue to maintain the Deferred Compensation Program which became effective on January 1, 1997 for the South Bend Fire Department. This program provides that for the first One Hundred Dollars($100)deferred by a sworn member of the Department each calendar year, the City of South Bend will match said amount $0.50 on the dollar, and for the next Three Hundred Dollars ($300) deferred by a sworn member of the Department each calendar year, the City of South Bend will match said amount, dollar for dollar. (j) Life Insurance. The City of South Bend shall continue to provide life insurance coverage on all sworn members and upper level policy making positions of the South Bend Fire Department in an amount equal to the amount of the sworn member's base pay or the upper level policy making position's base pay. (k) Health Insurance. Each active sworn member and upper level policy maker of the of the South Bend Fire Department who has met the eligibility requirements shall have the opportunity to participate in the City's comprehensive major medical insurance program. The contribution of such individuals shall be no greater than the contribution of other City employees receiving the same benefits, and the level of benefits shall be no less than the level for other City employees. Fire pensioners who are not members of South Bend Firefighters Association Local No. 362 shall pay an additional Fifty Dollars ($50) per month over and above such rates, subject to the obligations of Local No. 362 as may be further addressed in an approved Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of South Bend and Local No. 362 which provides that membership shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless agreed to by a Letter of Understanding approved by the Board of Public Safety. (I) Post-Employment Health Plan. The City of South Bend shall make an annual contribution of One Hundred Twenty Dollars ($120) for each sworn member in the calendar year 2026. Sworn firefighters may make additional contributions according to the plan documentation. (m) Program Coordinators. Any appointed Program Coordinator shall receive in addition to his or her annual base salary, a maximum sum of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) while he or she serves in that capacity in calendar year 2026. Section X. Education Tuition Reimbursement Program. (a) The South Bend Common Council agrees to continue the Education Tuition Reimbursement Program which originally began on January 1, 2005, for calendar year 2026. Qualifying sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department participating in the education Tuition Reimbursement Program shall be entitled to the following maximum dollar amounts for course tuition and other expenses related thereto: Course Grade Earned Maximum Amount to be Reimbursed by the City 100% of tuition costs and other expenses directly related to A said costs up to a maximum of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($1,250) B 100% of tuition costs and other expenses directly related to said costs up to a maximum of Nine Hundred Dollars ($900). (b) Education tuition reimbursement shall be on a "first come, first serve basis," subject to the maximum dollar amount budgeted by the South Bend Common Council for said program in calendar year 2026. All Fire Department regulations governing such program must be complied with by qualifying sworn members of the South Bend Fire Department in order for an individual to be eligible to be paid under this program. Section XI. Severability. If any part, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason declared to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section XII. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Canneth J. Lee, Council President South Bend Common Council Attest: Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of , 2025, at o'clock .m. Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of , 2025, at o'clock .m. James Mueller, Mayor City of South Bend, Indiana