The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) board has approved a new five-year contract with the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, providing union members a nearly 25% pay raise over its term. The agreement, finalized during a September meeting, is projected to cost approximately $313 million in raises over five years and is slated to be covered by increased charges to the 23 member cities contracted with the OCFA.
Under the terms of the new contract, all union members are set to receive a 4.5% raise annually for five years, compounding to a total increase of 24.6%. OCFA staff reports indicate that these “salary cost increases result in corresponding increases to cash contract city charges,” with cities expecting their bills to rise by nearly 25% over the five-year period to offset these costs. The contract, which is over 200 pages long, also includes fully funded bereavement leave for up to 20 days and retirement plans funded almost entirely at 99%. Pregnancy and parenthood leave will be paid for the first 24 hours, with the remainder of the period being unpaid.
The contract is scheduled to commence on March 19, 2027, and extend through March 11, 2032. OCFA Deputy Chief Robert Cortez stated during the September meeting that the board had previously approved the economic framework in June, with the recent vote focused on finalizing the language. Cortez affirmed the contract provides “long-term labor stability.” Chris Hamm, president of the OC Professional Firefighters Association, advocated for the ratification, asserting it prioritizes personnel while fully funding retiree healthcare and retirement liabilities.
While the majority of the board supported the new agreement, Directors Mark Tettemer and Robert Frackelton expressed reservations regarding both the financial implications for contract cities and the limited time provided for reviewing the extensive document. Tettemer, who also serves as a Lake Forest Council Member, voted against the contract. He articulated concerns about the five-year duration, finding it longer than he was comfortable with, and noted that the OCFA’s budget does not fully reflect the organization's capital demands. He also expressed concern about how various financial factors might converge to impact the organization's budget in the long run.
Villa Park City Councilman Robert Frackelton abstained from the vote, attempting to table the decision until a November meeting due to insufficient review time for the 200-plus page document, which he noted was provided less than a week before the vote. His motion did not pass. Frackelton expressed that he saw no urgency for such a swift vote, given the contract's start date in March 2027, and desired more time for careful review and questions. He anticipates contract cities will experience steady cost increases to absorb the higher expenses.
City officials from some member cities have voiced concerns about the financial impact. Stanton, one of Orange County's smaller cities, anticipates paying the increased costs from its general fund. City Manager Hannah Shin-Heydorn indicated these costs would place significant pressure on the city's general fund and budget, requiring careful management. She noted that while the city maintains prudent reserves for stability, the goal is to sustain structurally balanced ongoing operations rather than rely on reserves to fund recurring cost increases. These budget pressures for cities throughout Orange County come as some municipalities are seeking voter-approved tax increases this November.
Campaign finance disclosures indicate that several board members who voted in favor of the contract received campaign contributions from the firefighters union. Buena Park Mayor and OCFA board member Connor Traut, who voted yes, received over $380,000 in union support for his county supervisor campaign. Traut stated that public safety is a necessity and noted that Buena Park's new sales tax measure could help cover increased costs, adding that police and fire would remain at the front of the line in future budgets. Supervisor Katrina Foley, who missed the final vote but approved an outline of the deal in June, received nearly $200,000 in union support for her reelection. Direct donations were also made to Cypress Councilman David Burke, Seal Beach Councilwoman Lisa Landau, Irvine Councilwoman Betty Martinez-Franco, Aliso Viejo Councilman Mike Munzing, and San Clemente Councilman Victor Cabral, all of whom voted in favor of the new contract. The union also made substantial donations to both the Democratic and Republican parties of Orange County.
The new agreement reflects a significant long-term financial commitment by the OCFA board, with direct fiscal consequences for the participating Orange County cities.
