Ocean Springs Fire Department losing staff to better pay
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) – Ocean Springs city aldermen have accepted the resignation of three of the city’s firefighters.
Fire Chief Jeff Ponson tells the Mississippi Press the resignations are effective Friday, and says all three firefighters left for higher salaries with the City of Biloxi.
Before the new fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, a starting firefighter earned $26,000. This year’s budget called for a $1,000 raise to $27,000. However, Ocean Springs still ranks among the lowest in the region for firefighters’ salaries.
Biloxi pays its firefighters $36,193.
Alderman Jerry Dalgo says the city’s annual budget is $13 million. The fire department budget is $2.4 million.
The newspaper reported in May 2015 that the city’s police department had similar problems retaining personnel due to low pay.
