Firefighter Tuition Reimbursement Cut From City Budget

Some Memphis Fire Fighters may now be responsible to pay thousands for the education the city requires them to have.

It's due to a slashed budget, but some on the council say the mayor should not have cut this program.

Memphis Fire Fighter new hires are required to take three semesters of certification classes within their first three years on the job. Those who cannot get into the city's class offerings are often forced to become certified at Southwest Community College.

But now their tuition reimbursement has been reduced.

"To just pull the rug out from under them, without giving them notice is so unfair," said Memphis City Council Member Janis Fullilove.

Fullilove said she will find the funding to restore the program.

When Mayor AC Wharton cut $45 million from the budget, the tuition reimbursement program was reduced from $1 million to $500,000. The solution was to give all 341 recruits $1,400 instead of the $5,000 they got last year.

But the city council voted that option down. A move Council Member Shea Flinn does not agree with.

"The money has already been cut from the program," said Flinn. "So it's a question of are 342 going to get some or are 100 going to get all. I sided with trying to serve as broad a population with this program as we can."

The administration is considering a lottery system to see which 100 recruits will be reimbursed, or maybe, first come, first serve.

Chief Administrative Officer George Little reminded the council it directed the mayor to cut the budget.

"I think this is just the first in a series of these kinds of discussions that we'll have to have as we try to bring the city budget in line," said Little.

The President of the Fire Fighters Association, Larry Anthony, said it costs more than $4200 to be certified at Southwest.

"I prefer to find the money, just the bottom line," said Anthony. "There are people in school right now having to pay for their paramedic classes."

Fullilove said she hopes the administration can find the money, but if not will find it on her own and present a resolution in two weeks.