Jamie Munks
The State Journal-Register
***
Pay increases
Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin at Wednesday’s budget session raised concerns about 1.7 percent raises given to the majority of nonunion city workers in November, something he said he just heard about this week.
McMenamin contended that giving raises to hundreds of city workers is the type of spending decision that should be communicated to aldermen beforehand. He pointed to an ordinance the city council unanimously approved in March requiring mayors to file any executive orders they issue with the city clerk’s office, an effort aimed at increasing transparency.
Such cost-of-living pay increases have been granted to nonunion city workers in the past by executive order. Mayor Jim Langfelder said in the future, he’ll submit an ordinance for city council approval for nonunion pay increases. Funding for the increases had been part of the current fiscal year’s budget the city council approved, Langfelder noted.
The 1.7 percent increase late last year was in addition to a 3 percent pay hike given to the top police and fire department brass in May. That increase was an effort to cut down on “pay compression” in the departments, where some of the highest-paid union employees are out-earning their bosses. City officials have said that has hindered some of the employees from moving up through the ranks.
“I hope we get a grip on current pay and benefits,” McMenamin said.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 