Council committee gives due‑pass to Fort Wayne firefighters’ contract after arbitration outcome

The Finance Committee gave a due‑pass recommendation to S260512, the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne Professional Fire Fighters Local 124 covering 2025–26, after a presentation by Fire Chief Eric Leahy and budget clarifications from Deputy Controller Nick Jordan.

Chief Eric Leahy summarized the negotiations that began in July 2024, said most contract items were resolved and that an arbitrator selected the union’s proposal under baseball arbitration for the remaining issue (sick time). Leahy said the redline version presented reflects the arbitrator’s selection. Nick Jordan said the city can fund the contract in the short term but cautioned that added costs of several million dollars will require budget scrutiny going forward.

Council members asked about timing and fiscal impacts. Leahy said the 2025 payout will be delivered as a lump‑sum payment computed on gross pay with an initial 3% payment; employees will receive the full benefit of an aggregate 6% by 2026 once the contract is ratified and the certified base salary is updated. Jordan explained retiree payout implications tied to the certified base salary and cited an estimated $495,000 in related retiree adjustments discussed during the meeting.

Union President Todd Kabish addressed the council and thanked members for their work; the committee recorded a 9–0 vote in favor of a due‑pass recommendation.

Next steps: the ordinance will move to the regular session for final consideration. If approved, the administration will implement lump‑sum payments for 2025 and adjust certified base salaries for pension calculations in 2026.