Mesquite city staff said during the goal‑setting workshop that a thorough, multi‑meeting review of public safety compensation and benefits is underway and that staff will present data to the council prior to any policy decisions.

City Manager Cliff Kaheeli told council that public safety pay is “probably our highest priority” and that staff will present comprehensive analysis over several meetings rather than proposing a single number immediately. Kaheeli described a three‑phase approach the city is using for compensation adjustments: (1) target the employee groups farthest behind market pay and apply available funds; (2) standardize and narrow job classifications to reduce intra‑organization pay anomalies; and (3) identify employees 15–18% behind market and plan steps to remain competitive, focusing first on jobs the city struggles to fill.

Kaheeli said staff will also compare benefit packages on an apples‑to‑apples basis because Mesquite’s benefit contributions may differ from peer cities; he told council the overall compensation comparison should include both pay and benefits. “If the city of Mesquite is putting in a certain amount of money towards employee benefits, we need to look at what that comparison is when it comes to other cities and what employees pay into that system as well,” Kaheeli said.

Council members urged staff to provide detailed data before any policy decisions. Councilman Burrows and others argued the council needs full information on debt schedules, revenue capacity and multi‑year costs before committing to recurring compensation increases. Several members stressed the political sensitivity of pay discussions and asked for a transparent, multi‑year plan tied to budget capacity.

No formal action or pay changes were approved at the workshop. Staff said it will return with comparative pay and benefits analyses, recommended phase‑one adjustments where appropriate, and estimates of the ongoing fiscal impact for council consideration.