City employees could see pay increases ranging anywhere from 13.5 to 23.5 percent.
In a bid to recognize the hard work and dedication of city employees, and to help attract and keep top-tier talent, city officials are putting forth a bold proposal to substantially increase the pay of municipal employees across all departments, including police officers, firefighters, administrative staff and public works personnel starting next fiscal year, which begins October 1.
The move comes after a pay study was performed, comparing the city’s employment packages with neighboring municipalities and counties.
Included in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, discussed at a budget workshop earlier this week, non-step employees will see a 13.5 percent pay raise (4.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to counteract inflation and nine percent market adjustment). An additional compression adjustment, which applies to all full-time, regular and temp-to-perm general employees hired before October 1, 2022, of up to 10 percent over the COLA/market adjustment based on years in position up to the maximum of the respective pay grade. Pay compression helps prevent employees who have been in a job for a long time from making less than new hires in the same position. Police and Fire employees will also see minimum pay increases of 13.5 percent with additional increases based on step plans and merit, depending on the position and union status.
“We have a number of long-tenured employees who still hover at the bottom of their perspective pay ranges and the compression plan seeks to resolve that,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel.
The minimum starting pay rate will be $17.20 per hour for full-time employees.
Mayor Nate Kilton emphasized that the proposed pay raise is not only a sign of appreciation for the hard work and dedication of city employees but also a strategic move to address recruitment and retention challenges faced by various departments.
“Plant City is competing with other municipalities and with the private sector, I see it all the time in my business and with our clients,” he said. “We have to keep pace while trying to be fiscally responsible, we’re going to close the gap as far as we possibly can.”
The move comes to help bolster the city’s workforce, which runs a vacancy rate of 60 positions every month but McDaniel points to other benefits city workers receive.
In addition to pay, city employee also receive benefits such as a $250 annual holiday bonus, health insurance, vacation/sick leave and an eight percent contribution for 401a Plan for general employees. Career development programs include tuition reimbursement, and paid training and development courses and certifications.
“Pay is just a part of the equation,” said City Manager Bill McDaniel. “Pay and benefits are important but having a quality work environment is just as important, Plant City is a great place to work and have a career.”
The pay increase may be enough to entice workers to apply for its open positions, which include police officers, telecommunicators, utilities maintenance specialists, stormwater operators, firefighter EMTs and paramedics, engineers, accountants and more.
Jobseekers can learn more about the city’s job vacancies at plantcitygov.com/hr/page/employment-opportunities or by calling Human Resources at 813-659-4235.
Incidentally, the direct-hires for the city (City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk) will be receiving pay increases too, of 18.5 percent, 18.5 percent and 23.5 percent, respectively. “I think it’s fair to do for our direct hires what we’re doing for other employees,” said Kilton.
City commissioners got a pay raise too, with their annual pay increasing 13.5%, from $8,252.69 to $9,366.80. “I’m not sure what that is on an hourly basis but I can assure you it’s well below minimum wage,” said Kilton. “I always said that this is a volunteer position that has to be elected but I’m thinking as new commissioners are elected there needs to be compensation that is enought that it won’t preclude anybody from wanting to try to take on this role but should never be so much that it would entice someone to want to take on the role.”
