Lake Stevens staff present salary survey and budget options; mayor backs modest market fixes as public‑safety tax faces compliance questions

Summary

Consultants and finance staff updated council on a salary study and three implementation options. Mayor recommended option 2 (2.44% COLA plus market adjustments up to 95% of market for under‑paid jobs). Council discussed tradeoffs, benefit‑share changes, property tax redistribution, and uncertainty around a proposed public safety sales tax.

City staff and outside consultants reviewed a compensation study and a set of budget‑balancing options at the Lake Stevens City Council workshop on Oct. 21, offering council several implementation scenarios and prompting discussion about sustaining services while remaining competitive in the regional labor market.

Shannon and Kathy of Compensation Connections presented three options for nonrepresented employees (the study used the 60th‑percentile market reference): a cost‑of‑living adjustment only (COLA), a COLA plus targeted market adjustments to move jobs under 95% of market up to 95% (mayor’s recommendation), and a COLA plus adjustments to bring those jobs to 100% of market. Shannon summarized option 1 as “everyone in the nonrepresented group would receive an ... pay increase of approximately 2.44% with this particular option.”

The staff numbers shown to council: - Option 1 (COLA only): roughly $250,000 total cost (including benefits) for nonrepresented ranges. - Option 2 (COLA + move jobs under 95% to 95%): about $88,000 additional market adjustment cost; 16 jobs would be re‑graded; modeled overall midpoint for nonrepresented jobs would rise to roughly 99% of market. - Option 3 (COLA + move jobs under 95% to 100%): larger market adjustment cost (market component near $150,000) and…

Lake Stevens staff present salary survey and budget options; mayor backs modest market fixes as public‑safety tax faces compliance questions

Summary

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