This Was Never About Fixing the Incentive Plan. Let's stop pretending. The so-called "update" from the TFD "Incentive Committee" does not describe progress toward restoring what firefighters lost. It describes a process designed to avoid…
For more than two years, Troy officials have repeated the same story to residents, reporters, and firefighters. The IRS made us do it.The plan was illegal.There were no other options.Firefighters were made whole. Every part…
For years, Troy officials and messaging have leaned on a scary-sounding claim: Volunteer firefighters would have to pay taxes "now" on VFIP money they haven't even received yet. If that were true as a blanket…
🚨 Troy Fire Member Feedback: A Serious Red Flag 🚨 We recently surveyed our members about how likely they are to recommend joining Troy Fire. Keep in mind, this is a survey of the people…
In my previous article, I laid out why Troy City Council's repeated claim, that "the IRS made us" eliminate the Volunteer Firefighter Incentive Program, is not supported by the record. The IRS did not ban…
For over 85 years, Troy relied on volunteer firefighters to protect our families, our businesses, and our neighborhoods. Then City Hall took a sledgehammer to the very tool that kept the volunteer system alive, the…
In 2023, the City of Troy conducted a confidential staff survey with 385 responses and a ±3.0% margin of error. This wasn't a casual pulse check. It was a statistically meaningful snapshot of how employees…
In 2023, the City of Troy conducted a confidential staff survey with 385 responses and a ±3.0% margin of error. This wasn't a casual pulse check. It was a statistically meaningful snapshot of how employees…
For years, the City of Troy has justified eliminating the former firefighter incentive plan by pointing to an IRS determination letter that allegedly required the plan to go away. It's a powerful claim: Federal mandate.…
SPOILER ALERT As of 2021, Troy’s pension fund was approximately 56% funded, leaving the city with an estimated $11.6 million unfunded liability, a liability the city likely knew it could not fully fund under the…
After already losing a quarter of the department, the remaining firefighters were asked a simple question: “How likely are you to leave after your next payout?” The responses are worth careful attention. The answers paint…
Troy Firefighters Are Speaking, and the City Is Choosing Not to Listen Recently, 100 Troy firefighters took the time to fill out a survey about the current incentive plan and the state of the department.…
During World War II, Allied bombers returned from missions riddled with bullet holes. Engineers rushed to reinforce those areas, until statistician Abraham Wald said something that everyone else missed: You're only studying the planes that…
When the city removed the firefighter pension incentive, 34 firefighters left the department and only 100 of them remained to protect our 87,000 residents. In any other American city this size, losing 25% of a…
When Troy residents dial 911, they don’t ask who’s on duty. They don’t ask whether that firefighter reached a milestone. They don’t search budget reports or policy memos. They simply trust, that someone will…
Troy used to have a plan, a good one. A firefighter incentive that rewarded years of service, honored the sacrifices made on every call, and recognized the reality of what it means to be a…
At the League of Women Voters Forum in September, we heard the incumbents that are running for re-election talk about how the TFD pension wasn't a pension and was merely an incentive that could go…
I’m honored to receive the endorsements of Troy School District Board Members Audra Melton and Stephanie Zendler. Both Audra and Stephanie share my belief that strong communities start with strong public service, from our classrooms…
I am honored to share the endorsements of Jeanne Stine, former Mayor of Troy, and Dave Lambert. Both of these people are Troy Legends, fierce advocates for the Troy Public Library, and have served for…
Full article at: https://www.candgnews.com/news/council-candidate-wins-lawsuit-against-city-of-troy-9292