Zahra Ahmad
MLive.com
FLINT, Mich. — The city of Flint will pay certain employees hazardous-duty pay for working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
City Council this week approved moving $400,000 from its general fund for Flint’s first responders and frontline workers. Firefighters and police officers will receive $1,200, eligible staff in either department will get $750 and eligible water service center workers will get $1,000. Payments will be made to workers in two installments.
The money will be moved from the city’s reserve fund to its Fringe Benefit fund. There are about 300 employees who would qualify for hazardous pay, according to a May 7 staff review of the resolution. The reserve fund’s balance is expected to be at $6.6 million by the end of the fiscal year 2021.
First responders and frontline workers interact with people in Flint daily, according to a May 7 staff review approved by acting Chief Financial Officer Amanda Trujillo.
Several unions, Local 352, AFSCME Local 1799 and 1600, and the Flint Police Officers Association, provided letters supporting the decision.
The city should recognize its employees who are risking their health by working the frontline, said Councilperson Santino Guerra of Ward 3.
“The city has many essential employees that put themselves at risk to serve the community. This hazard pay is to help them in this wild time,” Guerra said.