Brevard County Looking At Ways To Retain Firefighters

Brevard County is grappling with a critical shortage of firefighters as 20% of the department has quit, citing low pay. The union is pushing for raises, with mandatory overtime they say, taking a toll on morale. To address the funding gap, Commissioner Katie Delaney is proposing an increase in fire and EMS impact fees, a measure last updated 30 years ago. While the idea faced initial resistance, a narrow 3-2 vote approved a study on the fees. A rally is set for today at the government center to raise awareness.