South Charleston council is set to revise the pay scale for 186 non-uniform employees and grant 25-cent-per-hour pay increases for most workers.
An ordinance given preliminary approval Thursday evening would increase the pay for entry-level, non-uniform employees by $1 an hour on average, to $9.25, in response to increases in the minimum wage, City Manager Rick Atkinson said prior to Thursday evening's council meeting.
Entry-level, non-uniform employees hired under the proposed new pay scale would earn $19,240 per year - about $2,000 more than now.
For non-uniform employees, there remain 15 steps from entry-level worker to most senior employee. There would be a 25-cent increase in each step. The top salary for a department head in the coming year will be $71,650.
In 2014 the number of steps in the pay scale for the city's police officers and firefighters was reduced from 20 to 5 and the annual pay increase in each step was increased from 5 cents to 25 cents.
Under the proposal given preliminary approval Thursday evening, the city's 40 police officers and 41 fire fighters would receive an approximate 2 percent pay raise.
A probationary police officer or firefighter would be paid $35,000. Pay would increase to $37,000 after the first year and would increase 2 percent thereafter, topping out at $40,050. At the top of the scale, a police lieutenant and an assistant chief in the Fire Department would earn $58,799.
Atkinson said the city's annual cost of wages would increase 6 percent, from the current $8.7 million to $9.2 million. However, the total cost of payroll would increase just 2 percent, from $11.6 million to $11.9 million, primarily because of a reduction in the city's workers' compensation insurance premium. Going forward, the total additional annual payroll cost will be $225,000.
Mayor Frank Mullens said prior to the council meeting that he has met with representatives of every employee group and they are OK with the proposal.
The revised pay scale system was approved by unanimous voice vote; Ward 8 Councilman Don Ryan was absent.
The pay plan, if approved once more at a future council meeting, would take full effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
Pay rates in the scale hadn't been increased for four or five years prior to the 2014 pay scale adjustment for police and firefighters, Atkinson said.
Atkinson said that without the expected $4.2 million in funding derived from the 1 percent municipal sales tax, which takes effect on July 1, "the pay scale most likely would not have been able to be adjusted."
Mullens noted that most of the sales tax revenue will be used to fund the police and fire pension plans and some will be used to bolster the city's rainy day fund, to improve roads, sidewalks and storm sewers, and to upgrade equipment.
The city's total budget this year is $23.6 million.
During a Finance Committee meeting prior to the council meeting, Atkinson gave highlights of the proposed 2017 budget, which begins July 1. He said revenue, including the sales tax revenue, is expected to be about $25 million. He said property tax revenue will be $6,000 less than the amount received this year.
He said the budget anticipates:
n No additional full-time employees.
n The addition of three additional firefighters to enable Fire Station No. 4 to have the minimum staffing requirement of three firefighters.
n A $1 million payment to the police and fire pension funds above the regular annual allotment to the pensions.
n $1 million for the city's rainy day fund.
n Infrastructure investments of $1 million.
During the council meeting, council approved the purchase of a new garbage truck for $85,632 from Worldwide Equipment of South Charleston. A state grant will fund the purchase, which must receive final approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Public Works Director Gerald Burgy said the truck will be used for recycling and will reduce the number of recycling trips the city makes to Beckley from five to two per week.
During department head reports:
n Recreation Director Arnett Hoston said the Community Center pool will be closed next week for repairs.
n Fire Chief John Taylor said the fire department will accept job applications through April 1 and a test will be administered May 14. Applications are available at the city clerk's office at City Hall and on the city's website.
n Police Chief Brad Rinehart said the police department, although currently fully staffed, will accept job applications through March 14. He said a test will be administered March 19.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. March 17 on the second floor of City Hall on D Street.