re: Are Baton Rouge Firefighters Underpaid?

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My department requires 30 years to retire. Every department around me is between 25-30 years with a 21 y/o age requirement to be hired. Most people stay on a few years longer than the minimum retirement. And I completely agree, 20 years is way too short

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Sounds reasonable. Another issue we have here is those who seek disability early. In whatever records govern the city of Lexington, if a police or fireman is considered 1% disabled, they are able to seek disability, and most do, and receive it. Then go work somewhere else. It's fraud any way you look at it.

We've had 2 cases in the last 3 years where police have gotten in trouble, and before their disciplinary hearing takes place, they apply for disability retirement and have been approved. No disciplinary hearing occurs. Really a middle finger to taxpayers.

As someone else pointed out, it used to be that govt employees got paid less than private sector counterparts and the benefits made up for that. Those days are long over and adjustments need to be made that provide relief to taxpayers.