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Town staff recommends moving to 70th percentile for Middle Tennessee pay; preliminary cost estimate $2.5M across funds
Summary
Staff presented a compensation review and recommended a market target in the top third (70th percentile) of Middle Tennessee municipalities; officials estimated roughly $1.5M to raise public safety salaries to that level and about $2.5M overall across funds to move all job families.
Town staff gave an overview of the town's compensation history and recommended changing the pay philosophy to target the 70th percentile (top third) of selected Middle Tennessee peer cities.
"When you're really looking at who our top competitors are, you're looking at Franklin, Murfreesboro, Brentwood, Metro, Lebanon, and Gallatin and Spring Hill," presenter Jeff Craig said. Jeff said Smyrna's current strategy of comparing statewide data leaves the town behind regional market rates; a targeted Middle Tennessee peer group better reflects local competition for talent.
Staff said estimates place the cost to bring police and fire positions to the 70th percentile at about $1.5 million and extrapolated that raising all job families to the target could cost approximately $2.5 million across funds. Jeff and Town Manager Dave Santucci said the work requires a job-by-job market comparison and that staff is already beginning a larger classification study.
Council members discussed timing, whether increases would be phased or immediate, consideration for step systems used by other jurisdictions, and incentives for recruiting experienced officers. Staff said the exercise is a market adjustment by job title, not a across-the-board longevity increase, and that timing would aim for implementation before the July 1 fiscal date if possible.
No formal compensation package was adopted during the meeting; staff sought direction on the compensation philosophy and priorities.
