‘I’m not a millionaire. I’m a firefighter’: Fire chief says WA income tax removed first responders’ pension protections

A fire chief with nearly 45 years of service said he feels betrayed after learning Washington’s new income tax law removed a protection that shielded first responders’ retirement benefits from taxes.

Chief Tim Manley, who appears in a campaign ad supporting Initiative 645, joined “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio to explain why he decided to speak out. A yes vote on I-645 would repeal the tax on income above $1 million. A no vote would keep it.

“I’m not a millionaire. I’m a firefighter,” Manley said in the ad. “I’m voting yes on 645 to restore retirement protections.”

Chief says the ad is about a broken promise

In the ad, Manley argued that the state broke a commitment to first responders.

“The state made first responders a promise: Our retirement benefits would be protected from taxes,” he said. “This year, Olympia broke that promise. One sentence buried in the income tax bill.”

Manley said one of his fire district’s board chairs approached him about appearing in the ad. He was already following the issue as he approaches retirement.

“I’m getting close to retirement, so I pay attention to these kinds of things,” Manley said. “As I saw this one unfolding, I examined it pretty closely and just made myself more educated on it.”

‘Why remove a lock?’

KIRO host John Curley noted that critics argued the change doesn’t matter because firefighters and teachers will never earn $1 million a year. Manley called that argument beside the point.

“They’re answering a question that was never asked, and that’s not the point,” Manley said. “The point is they removed that protection.”

Manley pointed to state lawmakers he said have discussed lowering the income threshold. He named Rep. Cindy Ryu, who he said has talked about $250,000, and Sen. Jesse Salomon, who he said has discussed $750,000. He also mentioned Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, whom he described as the law’s architect.

“So why remove a lock if you have no intentions of doing that?” Manley said. “A lot of us have pension plans and our personal IRAs and so on. They’re going to touch it. It’s just a matter of time.”

Supporters of the tax have said the threshold will remain at $1 million.

Chief says union leaders didn’t warn members

Asked whether anyone from union leadership told rank-and-file firefighters about the change, Manley said no. He learned about it from his board chair.

“I do find it strange, and I’m saddened by it,” Manley said. “But either that, or they just didn’t know it was that well hidden.”

Curley compared the pension protection to a firefighter’s PASS device, an alarm that alerts crews when a firefighter stops moving or needs rescue. Many firefighters never need it, Curley said, but it’s there for their protection.

When Curley asked whether he felt betrayed, Manley didn’t hesitate.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” he said. “I started asking that question yesterday and sent it up. I haven’t gotten a response yet.”

Manley said he has sent his questions to state lawmakers and is waiting to hear back.

Response has been mostly supportive, chief says

Manley said he was worried about backlash before appearing in the ad, but the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Former colleagues have thanked him for explaining the issue, he said, and one voter sent him a photo of her ballot after she changed her vote to yes.

A few people have told him they still plan to vote no, and Manley said he respects that.

“They have an opinion. They’re allowed to have it,” he said. “That’s what makes this country great. We get to have our opinions and vote the way we like.”

Inspired by ‘Emergency!’

Manley, 59, joined a fire department as a 15-year-old cadet in Maine in the early 1980s. He credited the TV series “Emergency!” for sparking his interest.

“I literally would run home so that I wouldn’t miss an episode,” he said. “Those are my heroes.”

He said he could retire but has no plans to yet. He also works as a practicing paramedic in the town where he lives.

“I really enjoy this job,” Manley said. “I love it.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The John Curley Show” weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM.

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