Fort Smith Firefighters Sought Salary Increases
The local fire union requested a 13.7% pay boost as the city considers doubling the Supplemental Alcohol Tax.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Financial Planning
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The Fort Smith Firefighter's IAFF Local 33 union has requested a 13.7% salary increase to remain competitive with other regional departments. The city is currently exploring budget cuts and a potential increase to the local Supplemental Alcohol Tax to fund these pay adjustments.
Why it matters
Local officials are weighing these wage requests against the city budget, as firefighters seek to correct years of falling behind comparable regional pay standards. Funding the full increase would require $375,000 beyond what city staff initially identified through departmental budget cuts.
The city identified that a 10.7% raise is currently supported by budget cuts, while a full 13.7% increase requires $375,000 in additional revenue. Doubling the Supplemental Alcohol Tax from 5% to 10% is estimated to generate $500,000.
The players
Fort Smith Firefighter's IAFF Local 33
This local union represents fire department personnel and advocates for their employment benefits and contract terms.
Christina Catsavis
She serves as a member of the Fort Smith Board of Directors.
George Catsavis
He serves as a member of the Fort Smith Board of Directors.
The details
Directors Christina Catsavis and George Catsavis have requested a formal ordinance draft to move the salary proposal forward. If the 13.7% increase is ultimately approved, Fort Smith fire salaries would rank seventh among ten compared Arkansas departments.
Timeline
The Supplemental Alcohol Tax increase was previously appealed in 2020.
Firefighters presented pay data to the Board on September 22, 2026.
The Board discussed the salary proposal on October 5, 2026.
The City Administrator issued a memorandum regarding funding on October 8, 2026.
Salary increases would take effect in April 2027 if approved.
Market Dynamics
This move highlights the ongoing reliance of smaller municipalities on targeted sin taxes to bridge gaps in public sector labor funding. The proposal follows a long-term trend of cities using specific tax adjustments to maintain competitiveness with regional wage benchmarks.
The potential doubling of the Supplemental Alcohol Tax would directly impact the operating costs for local restaurants and bars in Fort Smith. Business owners and consumers should monitor the upcoming ordinance vote to determine if these tax changes will be passed on to the local market.
The takeaway
Municipal salary negotiations often require identifying new revenue streams like targeted tax increases to satisfy labor demands. Residents should review future city board agendas to see how these proposed adjustments affect local tax rates and service budgets.
What happens next
The Board of Directors will review a drafted ordinance regarding the fire salary proposal following the request from Directors Christina and George Catsavis.
Further reading
For more on managing municipal budgets and tax-funded compensation, visit Financial Planning.
More information
Review the draft ordinance for fire salary increase to track the progress of these pay adjustments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Home Page.
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