More Information
Unlike the cost of living, starting pay has been virtually unchanged in 24 years.
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Cape May firefighters starting net pay averages under $9/hour.
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Cape May Firefighters receive an annual average pay increase of less than $1 an hour.
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It takes substantially longer for Cape May Firefighters to attain Senior Firefighter designation compared to any other fire department in our area.
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Senior Firefighters earn 30% lower wages than any other senior firefighters in our area.
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With so many hours worked, the City of Cape May has still managed to reduce leave time for firefighters.
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As a small department located in such a unique town, Cape May Firefighters are required to be trained and proficient in many diverse facets of Fire and Rescue to best serve and protect the people Cape May.
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During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Cape May Firefighters continued to work a full-time schedule with adapted protocols and procedures to keep our community safe.
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Cape May to Receive Federal Grant
What will Cape May City be doing with $336,150.63 they will be receiving in federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ?
Pay for essential workers is listed as a permitted use for this Grant.
Premium Pay for Essential Workers LFRF funds may be used by recipients to provide premium pay to eligible workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency, or to provide grants to third-party employers (including local government subcontractors) with eligible workers performing essential work. Eligible workers are those who have been and continue to be relied on to maintain continuity of operations of essential critical infrastructure sectors, including those who are critical to protecting the health and wellbeing of their communities. Essential work is work involving regular in-person interactions or regular physical handling of items that were also handled by others such as, but not necessarily limited to, staff in public health, public safety, social services, along with home health aides, janitors, and child care workers. Premium pay is defined as an amount up to $13 per hour in addition to wages or remuneration the worker otherwise receives and in an aggregate amount not to exceed $25,000 per eligible worker. Employers may use LFRF funds to offer retrospective premium pay, recognizing that many essential workers have not yet received additional compensation for work performed. LFRF funds directed toward premium pay should prioritize lower-income eligible workers performing essential work. Premium pay that would increase a worker’s total pay above 150% of the greater of the state or county average annual wage requires specific justification for how it responds to the needs of these workers.