At their final regular council meetings of the year, Cortland and Lordstown officials approved pay increases for employees effective in 2025.

Cortland council gave final reading to increase the pay for part-time firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians. The ordinance states that on the first pay cycle in 2025, the pay for part-time firefighter / EMT Basic is $18 per hour; part-time firefighter / paramedic is $20 per hour; and part-time fire inspector is $20 per hour.

In 2026, the pay for part-time firefighter / EMT basic goes to $19 per hour; part-time firefighter / paramedic rises to $21 per hour; and part-time fire inspector increases to $21 per hour.

In 2027, the pay for all three positions increases by another $1 per hour.

The contract also states that part-time firefighter / EMT and a part-time firefighter / paramedic shall be paid double time for working holidays.

Fire Chief David Rea said previously that he wanted to have the pay adjustments in place before the end of the year. He said he hopes the pay adjustments will help attract more employees, as well as keep current staff.

In Lordstown, council gave final reading for increases for part-time police dispatchers and other positions in the police and fire departments effective Jan. 1.

In the agreement, part-time dispatchers will receive $15.86 per hour in 2025, $16.34 in 2026 and $16.83 in 2027.

Part-time dispatchers who work 150 hours during 2025 will receive a lump sum payment of $350 in January 2026, with $350 lump sum payments in January 2027 and January 2028 for working 150 hours the previous years.

The new agreement is effective Jan. 1 and also includes Emancipation Day, or Juneteenth, on June 19 as a holiday.

For full-time dispatchers, for employees at step 1 on the salary scale, the pay for 2025 is $23.09 per hour, step 2 is $23.78, step 3 is $24.49 per hour and step 4 is $25.22. Employees in 2026 will be paid for step 1 at $23.78 per hour, step 2 at $24.49 per hour, step 3 at $25.22 per hour, and step 4 at $25.97. Employees in 2027 will be paid for step 1 at $24.49 per hour, step 2 at $25.22 per hour, step 3 at $25.97 per hour, and step 4 at $26.74 per hour.

The employees also will receive a $350 lump sum each year.

For the full-time fire captains and full-time paramedics and firefighters there will be various increases based on what step the employee is at.

For full-time captains, at step 1 the yearly salary will be $61,743 in 2025, $63,596 in 2026 and $65,504 in 2027. At step 4 the yearly salary will be $65,964 in 2025, $67,943 in 2026 and $69,981 in 2027.

For full-time paramedic / firefighter at step 1, the yearly salary will be $60,565 in 2025, $62,382 in 2026, and $64,254 in 2027. At step 4, the yearly salary will be $64,786 in 2025, $66,729 in 2026 and $68,731 in 2027.

Also approved was setting the pay for the working foreman in the maintenance department, who will be paid $26.78 per hour in 2025, $27.58 per hour in 2026 and $28.41 per hour in 2027.

For mechanic / laborer / maintenance operator the pay is $23.69 per hour in 2025, $24.40 per hour in 2026 and $25.13 per hour in 2027.