Hundreds of Louisville firefighters could receive payments ranging from less than $100 to as much as $120,000 as compensation for miscalculated overtime pay under a $45 million settlement plan submitted Monday to the Metro Council.

Mayor Jerry Abramson is proposing using money from the general fund to make the first of three payments — $15.8 million by Dec. 1 — as part of the settlement.

That payment includes $14.3 million to more than 800 current and former firefighters involved in two lawsuits over an overtime pay dispute that has gone on nine years. It also includes $1.5 million to cover attorney fees.

Under Abramson’s plan, the city would make additional payments of $14.3 million by March 31 and $14.9 million by July 15 to complete the settlement.

The proposal will be discussed in the Metro Council’s budget committee and could be voted on by the whole council as soon as Nov. 19.

Jane Driskell, director of the metro office of management and budget, said the total payout to individual firefighters would range from less than $100 to as much as $120,000, with each firefighter’s payout based on the number of overtime hours worked during the disputed years.

In addition, Driskell said the city must also pay employer costs, including such things as taxes, Social Security payments and contributions to the firefighter’s pension fund based on the salary adjustments. That amount hasn’t been determined yet, she said.

Metro government and firefighters had reached the settlement during a mediation meeting Oct. 5. Firefighters involved in the lawsuit met Oct. 14-15 to hear the details and vote in closed sessions on whether to accept the settlement.

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