Official refuses to discuss raises for city workers

A closer look at potential raises will be taken next year.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- There are proposals for pay increases for several nonunion city employees, but city council's finance chairman says these will not be seriously discussed until next year.
Members of the finance committee this month reviewed requests for pay increases for the mayor, law director, auditor, treasurer, street superintendent, mayor's secretary and police chief. No increase in pay was requested for the service director, but a request for medical coverage for that position was made.
Three-percent raises were requested for the mayor and law director each year over three years starting in 2009, with an adjustment in 2008. No raises can be awarded to the mayor or law director by law until 2008. Requested 3.5-percent increases were made for the auditor in 2007 and 2008 with a 3-percent increase in 2009.
Councilman Patton Gilliland, finance committee chairman, said all the requests were reviewed last week. He said no increases in pay will be seriously considered until 2007.
Mayor responds
Mayor Arthur Magee, however, said the issue will likely be raised again before 2007. He said there are six other members of council that still have to weigh in on the issue.
"He shut off debate. He has no right to do that," he said of Gilliland.
Magee said the raises were included in city plans over the last several years and were included in information to the public before the 0.5 income tax increase was passed in November 2004. The additional tax revenue, he said, is being spent exactly as planned.
Gilliland said many people consider only the take-home salary when considering pay increases, but there is more that must be considered. He said total cost to the taxpayer is increased dramatically when benefits are factored in.
"They are just looking at the take-home pay. They are not telling people with everything included how much this will cost," Gilliland said. "People need to see that."
Increases
According to the city, the mayor makes $29,374, and that would increase to a salary of $60,100 by 2011 if the increases were approved. Gilliland said his compensation, benefits included, would go from $51,644 to $92,078 by 2011.
The law director makes $26,000 annually, and his salary would increase to $51,060 by 2011 if the increases were approved. Gilliland said the total compensation package would then increase from $29,939 to $68,576.
The auditor earns $41,523 annually and would move to $48,130 by 2009 if the increases were granted. Total package compensation, Gilliland said, would increase from $55,434 to $64,464. Total compensation package for the treasurer would increase from $10,708 to $12,205 annually by 2009.
Mayor, auditor, law director and treasurer are part-time positions. Gilliland said current compensation for those positions is fair.
Full-time positions
Gilliland said pay increases requested for the full-time positions -- police chief, mayor's secretary and street superintendent -- cannot be considered in the immediate future. There was also a request that the street superintendent be paid overtime wages for any work over 40 hours. The police chief's salary would be adjusted from $39,158 to $49,500.
Gilliland said the salary for the street superintendent and mayor's secretary positions were increased in 2005, and the police chief saw an increase in 2004. Superintendent of streets moved from $16.84 per hour to $19.20 per hour. The mayor's secretary moved from $10.35 per hour to $14.16 per hour.
Gilliland said the finance committee will have "something prepared" sometime in 2007 to address the salary request. He said city leaders would be wise to wait and see what financial shape the city will be in, with potential job cuts looming at large employers.
jgoodwin@vindy.com