After tax hike, turnover: why 22 firefighters left Kenner
KENNER, La. — A voter-approved tax increase meant to stabilize the Kenner Fire Department has been followed by a wave of departures.
Over the past year, 22 firefighters left Kenner, many for nearby departments in Jefferson Parish offering better long-term pay.
Voters approved replacing a 7.4-mill tax with an 18.2-mill levy to fund salaries, equipment and stations. The move increased revenue, but the results inside the department have been mixed.
Starting pay went up. But firefighters say long-term earning growth changed in a way that makes it harder to stay over a full career.
“We were told more money was coming,” one former firefighter said. “But you don’t see it over time.”
The dispute has also moved into court. Firefighters have filed an ongoing lawsuit tied to pay and working conditions, adding pressure on city leadership.
Tensions inside the department remain high. Firefighters issued a no-confidence vote in Fire Chief Terence Delgadillo. Mayor Michael Glaser has backed the chief.
For many firefighters, the decision came down to simple math: better long-term pay elsewhere.
The city now faces a retention problem, not a funding problem.
