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Let's examine the budgetary facts behind this firefighter union President's statement: "Carreiro pointed to the fire department committing to taking no raises throughout the 2012-15 collective bargaining agreement. He said that two more years of no raises, amounting to five out of seven years with no raises, was something the rank and file was not prepared to commit to".

Personnel Services Line Item for Firefighter Budget (Includes all base salary and all other compensation, plus healthcare & pension benefits)

2012 Cost $35,774,726

2013 Cost $37,890,375 +$2,115,649 from prev year or 5.9% increase - percent chg from base year 5.9%

2014 Cost $37,981,225 +$90,850 from prev year or 0.2% increase - percent chg from base year 6.17%

2015 Cost $39,256,882 +1,275,657 from prev year or 3.4% increase - percent chg from base year 9.73%

2016 Cost $44,579,398 +5,322,516 from prev year or 13.6% increase - percent chg from base year 24.6%

2017 Cost $44,788,245 +208,847 from prev year or 0.5% increase - percent chg from base year 25.2%

2018 Cost $46,835,506 + 2,047,261 from prev year or 4.6% increase - percent chg from base year 30.9%

Compensation should not be measured by simply whether base wages were increased year over year. Over the three year period 2012-2015 when total firefighter compensation is calculated covering salary and benefits, the overall increased in firefighter compensation was $3,482,156 or 9.73%.

Taking this analysis forward through the 2018 fiscal year, overall firefighter compensation increased by $11,060,780 from the 2012 base year or a 30.9% increase. That averages to 5.2% increase over the 6 years.