Trustees approve salary increases for nonunion employees after discussion of limits and comparables

Fairfield Township trustees voted to adopt a resolution authorizing salary increases for nonunion township employees following discussion of comparable pay rates and the township’s fiscal limits.

Trustees said staff had been asked to review effective pay rates for township positions and how neighboring governments compensate similar roles. The record shows trustees discussed balancing competitive pay with the township’s limited revenue and noted they could not match higher rates paid by some neighboring jurisdictions.

Meeting remarks described the approved adjustments as modest steps intended to make employees feel valued. Trustees said total compensation — including health insurance, retirement and other benefits — significantly increases the taxpayer cost of pay raises, and that the township lacks the development-driven revenue some neighboring jurisdictions receive.

A roll call recorded Trustee Berding (yes), Trustee Harkenmeier (yes) and Trustee McAfee (no); the chair announced the resolution adopted. The transcript does not identify the mover or seconder for the motion.

Trustees discussed the size of the adjustments in percentage terms during debate; speakers referenced a general range of mid-single-digit percentage increases, and one trustee summarized the range discussed as between roughly 3 and 6 percent. The transcript contains inconsistent percent figures in several lines; the approved resolution text and final salary table were presented by staff and recorded as meeting materials but the precise dollar and percentage amounts are not specified in the spoken record provided.