Council approves pay-plan changes and one-time pay increase after extended debate

The Decatur City Council approved two personnel measures Monday: an amendment to the pay plan that modifies pay-grade structure (including adjustments for the police department) and a separate resolution authorizing a one-time pay increase for full-time city employees.

The pay-plan measure (Resolution 25-2-52) modifies classifications and adjusts pay-grade steps. City staff said the police department pay adjustments add steps within the pay scale to reduce the number of employees “topped out” at the top of their pay ranges; staff explained that the change would lengthen the time required to reach the top step in some non-police classifications while adding steps that raise longer-term earning potential in affected grades. During discussion staff noted specific mechanics: police department hires would see movement that equates to two steps in the first year under the revised schedule and, per staff’s examples, certain promotion/step timing equated to earlier scenarios taking 16–17 years to reach top pay in some cases.

Councilmembers questioned whether the pay-plan change addressed employee concerns about slow progress to top pay and the balance between one-time increases versus structural changes to pay ranges. Several councilmembers said they had heard employees express that topping out took too long and asked staff for more data on retention and market competitiveness.

The pay-plan resolution passed with a 4-0-1 vote (one councilmember recorded as "no" or abstaining on procedural grounds during roll call); staff said the change required implementation work by human resources and finance.

The second measure (Resolution 25-2-53) authorizes a one-time pay increase for full-time employees. City staff and finance reported the increase will be processed after HR and finance finalize budget adjustments; staff thanked HR and finance staff for work to accommodate the change in the coming fiscal budget. The one-time pay-increase resolution passed 5-0.

Councilmembers who supported both measures said the combined approach—structural pay adjustments plus a one-time payment—aimed to provide immediate relief while improving long-term pay progression. Opponents argued the pay plan still left some employees feeling that it would take many years to reach top pay and favored larger one-time payments or different step structures.

Staff said implementation details (timing, budget source, and pay administration) will be handled by HR and finance and will be reflected in the next budget cycle and payroll processing.