AnonymousSource: Montecito Fire Department
Yesterday, the Montecito Fire Protection District Board of Directors appointed Kevin Taylor as the next Fire Chief of the Montecito Fire Department.
Taylor began his career in 1987 with Cal Fire in San Luis Obispo County. He hired on with the Paso Robles Fire Department in 1991, where he progressed through the ranks to Battalion Chief in 2003. In February 2015, the Montecito Fire Department hired Taylor as the Division Chief – Operations. Chief Taylor has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration and a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management. He is a founding member of the Santa Barbara County Type 3 Incident Management Team and served as one of three Incident Commanders. Chief Taylor was one of the Unified Commanders of the 1-9 Debris Flow event in Montecito and remains engaged in the recovery process.
“The Board of Directors of the Montecito Fire Protection District welcomes, with much enthusiasm, the newly appointed Fire Chief, Kevin Taylor,” stated Board President, Sylvia Easton. “Chief Taylor is already highly respected in the Montecito community, as well as the greater Santa Barbara County for his leadership roles. We congratulate him and look forward to working with him as the new Fire Chief.”
Chip Hickman has been the Fire Chief for the past 7 years and successfully led the organization through the two largest disasters the community of Montecito has ever experienced. After 29 years with the Montecito Fire Department, Chief Hickman will officially retire on July 5, 2019. “The Board bids farewell to Chief Chip Hickman and we wish him the best,” stated President Easton. We thank him for his long, dedicated and distinguished service to the Montecito community.”
Kevin Taylor cost taxpayers $410,000 a year for his present position. Prior Chief Hickman cost taxpayers $454, 645 a year. Stephen Hickman
Fire Chief (2018)
Regular pay:$248,592.00
Overtime pay:$0.00
Other pay:$107,832.00
Total pay:$356,424.00
Benefits:$98,221.20
Total pay & benefits:$454,645.20
@Factotum So what! That man worked his ass off for that money. He totally earned every penny of that money by saving lives and homes for all those years. Not many people can see what he has seen while serving his Community and do it for as long as he did. He is a Hero! Let him walk away proud of a job well done. Thank him for his services.
In many municipalities firefighters are volunteers. Here we pay them the highest salaries in the state and gift them a 7 figure retirement on their 55th birthday. Why are we the only place in the world to pay our firefighters more than physicians ? Because their union has hoodwinked you and everyone else into thinking we must. Even though every new FF job opening has hundreds of capable, qualified applicants. Nothing about this job is worth this much money. Montecito is a tiny town. In comparison, if this was fair compensation for the market, LA’s fire chief would be paid $10m a year. Instead we are fleeced again by the public unions and their insatiable appetite for your money and your grand kids future. BTW: Calfire teams are paid a fraction of the salaries the municipalities and work longer hours and much, much more difficult duties.
Thank you Chief for your years of dedicated service to Montecito, and the entire department’s helpful outreach to individuals in our community. If asked, A+ rating to you Chief, all current responders and recent retirees.