Personnel committee approves moving BLW compensation plan and allocation charts forward

The personnel and insurance committee reviewed a request to adopt the City of Marietta Board of Lights and Water (BLW) compensation plan and allocation charts effective July 1, 2025 and voted to forward the package to the agenda work session.

Staff recommended approval of the compensation classification plan, position allocation chart and career development plan exhibit; the packet also asked the committee to approve adjustments to maximum salary ranges to keep the pay structure competitive. The staff memo asked for authorization to implement a 4% salary increase for eligible regular employees effective Dec. 1, 2025 "that will move forward if financial and budget conditions allow." Eligible employees would be those hired on or before July 1, 2025 who had not reached the top of their pay ranges.

Other changes included authorization to use "annual increase pay in lieu of salary increases" in order to preserve pay ranges and an administrative reallocation of the internal auditor position from Finance to the City Manager's office to provide additional independence for that role.

Committee action: Committee members moved the item to the Monday agenda work session (along with the budget matters) and approved the request to move forward for council consideration. The motion passed without objection at committee.

Why it matters: The changes affect BLW pay structures, provide a mechanism for a conditional salary increase, and reposition the internal audit function for organizational oversight. The recommendation was noted as being included in the FY 2026 recommended budget.