By Joe Schoenmann (contact)

Friday, March 23, 2012 | 4:04 p.m.

Future hires by the Clark County Fire Department will not be eligible for longevity pay, an incentive used to keep employees from leaving their job for other opportunities.

In addition, a contract worked out between the firefighters union and Clark County management calls for a wage freeze for the next two years. The contract must be ratified by the Clark County Commission before it can take effect.

The three-year contract, which will run from July 1 through June 2015, allows the salary schedule to be opened for negotiation in the third year.

County administrators estimate the longevity concession will save $60 million over the next 25 years.

"The local 1908 has come to the table and demonstrated a sincere willingness to address the short- and long-term financial issues the county faces, Assistant County Manager Ed Finger said. There have been some past challenges, but their assistance and partnership is real and deserves recognition."

The quick contract resolution marks a change from two years ago, when negotiations stalled until an independent arbitrator was called in to decide on a contract. Both county administrators and firefighters are looking ahead to 2014, when voters will be allowed to decide if they want to extend a 5.27 cent property tax, per $100, that helps the Fire Department pay capital and operational expenses.

The County Commission will consider the agreement on the April 17 agenda.

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Tentative county fire pact calls for 2-year pay freeze, end to longevity bonus