Mayor Landrieu announces deal with firefighters and says ‘We’re gonna have to

Under the deal, firefighters would receive $75 million in back pay over 13 years.

The settlement – details of which are expected on Friday – would reform a long-troubled pension fund while keeping the city on what is described as a “positive fiscal track”.

The money will come from a 2.5% property tax mill increase.

“After decades of gridlock, court battles and uncertainty for our firefighters and for taxpayers, together we have solved this problem hopefully once and for all”, Landrieu said.

“I’m very proud to be part of the city council and a part of the city government that wrestled with this bear and got it dealt with”, says Councilmember Jason Williams, one of many politicians on hand for the Mayor’s announcement. Landrieu also promoted Operation Relentless Pursuit, his recently unveiled crime-fighting umbrella strategy that includes funding $11 million “unlimited” overtime for NOPD – the “equivalent of adding 100 officers to the force”, he said.

The source, whose name is being withheld because the deal has yet to be officially announced, said the agreement was reached this afternoon.

The mayor said budget challenges remain in a few areas, like the sheriff’s office consent decree and the ongoing dispute with the firefighter’s union over the legacy pay and pension issues. Landrieu also wants to increase the fire department budget five percent, and buy eleven new fire trucks. “This is not sustainable”, Landrieu said.

The deal also calls for overhauls to the firefighters’ pension system, which has run into financial trouble and is the subject of a separate lawsuit brought by firefighters.

Successive city administrations balked at paying the back pay.

The Firefighters Association had filed contempt charges against the city.