So sad people are finally getting their back pay and between federal/state/social security taxes, they are paying about 35-40 percent tax rate. I can say I had over 7000 dollars in taxes taken out. It was just depressing to see that.
3 Likes
Lump sum payments unfortunately get treated in a similar fashion to OT. The income taxes get calculated at a higher rate for both State & Federal.
38% combined State & Fed(California) taxes
6.5% FICA(Social Security)
2% combined unemployment and disability
So approximately 45% give/take gets taken away. The deferred comp(401k or 457) is the only way you’ll keep more of what you male. The government is gunna take it either way. Might as well invest in yourself and your future retirement.
4 Likes
Although it does not help you now, realize when you file your taxes next year, you’ll get a good chunk of that back. Most of us probably only pay a 15%-20% total Fed/State tax on earnings so if $7k was deducted, you get close to $3500 back next April. Again, doesn’t help now…
Agree with Ehoss, if you have the ability to squirrel away into a deferred comp, max it to your ability. Usually an instant 20% return in money that is yours. When I was working for the state, my monthly take home for my salary check was less than $1000. I maxed out both my 401k and 457.
5 Likes
Spot on @tumbleweed . My 401k/457 is darn near maxed out and ZERO taxes are taken from base check. The OT check on the other hand gets hammered. My goal is a zero tax return and always end up getting money back due to the amount of OT earned/taxed
6 Likes
I’ve been trying to figure out the overtime piece of the supplemental payment for a few weeks now. No one could explain it, finally gave up.
Thanks grassroots, thanks NFFE, thanks to the legislative and executive branches of government for making this happen.
Onward to the timhartact, new salary scale, new position descriptions and portal to portal.
6 Likes
Edited to update as of 7-20-22
One more co-sponsors 
H.R.5631 - Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act (117th Congress)
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (Introduced 10/19/2021)
Has changes in:
New Cosponsors (1 new, 26 total)
Cosponsor: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52 - ]07/19/2022
Is your Rep on this list? (Latest in bold)
California
Cosponsor: 07/19/2022: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52]
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] - 07/13/2022
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] | - 06/21/2022
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] - 06/17/2022
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] - 03/30/2022
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-18] - 11/15/2021
Rep. O’Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] - 11/15/2021
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] - 10/26/2021
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] - 10/19/2021
Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45] - 10/19/2021
Colorado
[Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]] - He is the sponsor
Illinois
Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] - 07/13/2022
New Mexico
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann [D-NM-1] - 7/05/2022
Oregon
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] - 07/13/2022
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] - 02/08/2022
Texas
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] - 07/13/2022
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] - 07/05/2022
Virginia
Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] - 02/28/2022
Washington State
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] - 05/10/2022
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] - 05/10/2022
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] - 03/28/2022
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] - 01/28/2022
Wyoming
Rep. Cheney, Liz [R-WY-At Large] - 10/19/2021
2 Likes
My Congressman, who represents the District which is burning, is not on the list. He has described Fire Fighters as “Unskilled” workers.
1 Like
I have emailed and called his office several times about this fact when fires(Big Fires) were burning in the District he represents. I received a generic email back but never a call.
4 Likes
If your representative doesn’t care to respond and talk to you, then VOTE them OUT!
8 Likes
Easier said than done in this State. You know that…
1 Like
Love to see McClintock unceremoniously unemployed.
9 Likes
We (NFFE) met with Julia Brownley when I was out in DC. Huge that she signed on as a Co-sponser. Started to cry when we spoke.
4 Likes
Retirement related
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Awesome, at least I would be able to retire a few years earlier. I would gladly stick around but the Wage Grade Fire Operators are now being told we WON’T be included in the new series.
Who told you that? As of right now, a lot of Positions are up for grabs and the PDs are being worked on as we speak. Are you 6c retirement?
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Pushing, Make sure you pass this info along to hrryup and grassroots.
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That was straight from the Forest Service pay and series town hall and the subsequent grassroots meeting. I feel like they never really looked at the Wage Grade 5716 fire operator position descriptions. Ours is quite fire specific in relation to the 5716 engineering equipment operators. As a WG our job and areas are studied annually with a full study every other year and they feel we are in the correct position and compensation for our job series.
2 Likes
I can’t see them not converting all the WGs dozers to the 456 series. We would lose everyone.
Unfortunately this doesn’t surprise me at all after working in that same position. It’s really sad how little people know about this position. I know of some guys working on trying to get the right information out that shows the difference in pay with the similar job duties. One of the biggest reasons I made the move to the state was because I think it is best for my family.
5 Likes
Bottom line….the Federal government will only/ever give “lip service” and will never really care about any wildfire agency (certainly not those of us who are lowly firefighters). They have bigger fish to fry ….secret service, capital police, air marshals, the list is amazingly long.
We all just have to put the fires out with little respect…forget equal compensation.
Best bet for ALL firefighters involved who want parity with other fire agencies is to gravitate/migrate to state or local gov agencies! (I have been hearing about all of these issues for 30 years). Get licensed , get certified and quit the feds, it won’t change) 
2 Likes