A debate was under way Thursday over whether salaries of San Diego City firefighters compare favorably to those of other agencies.
A recent survey done for the mayor's office shows take-home pay for most firefighters is sub par when compared to that for other agencies in the region, NBC 7/39 reported.
At a news conference Thursday, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said firefighter pay and benefits actually are on a par with other agencies.
However, when pensions are figured in, salaries dip below the median, Sanders said.
"As is known to everybody, the city has very limited resources at this time," Sanders said. "These two factors make absolutely no judgment on the quality and caliber of our firefighters. I think they are amongst the most courageous of public servants."
Last year, the fire department lost 43 employees, only one choosing to leave for another job, NBC 7/39 reported.
Sanders said the department is still attractive to job applicants and that more than 2,000 applications have been received for 50 open positions.
