Lowest paid first responders in Yuma County could see raises

Somerton-Cocopah firefighters are the lowest paid in Yuma County which has caused several to head to other departments.

The City of Somerton is working to fix that with raises for those first responders and other city employees.

The city is looking to give all of their employees a two-percent raise in their upcoming budget, but firefighters will see that two-percent plus fifty cents, according to City Manager Ian McGaughey.

Fire Chief Paul De Anda explained the starting wage for a firefighter is $11.50.

“The mayor, the council, the city manager, the finance director, they’re all conscious of the fact that our people need to get paid more. But, as I said, you can’t pull blood out of a turnip. So, our tax base isn’t so that it’s producing enough revenue to support all the city functions at that level. So, for them to do that is a really big deal as a chief,” said Chief De Anda.

Somerton-Cocopah Fire employs more than 40 first responders.

The city manager explained how the city plans to fund the raises for all city employees.

“The City of Somerton is really focused on economic development and finding ways to bring new business into the city. What that does, it helps bring in sales tax revenues, which helps the city’s bottom line and then can foster increased compensation for our employees,” said McGaughey.

Chief De Anda said getting these raises into this upcoming fiscal budget is the first step to the overall solution he plans to work on with city officials.