Consultant recommends pay‑range overhaul, targeted raises for city workforce

Consultant Evergreen Solutions presented a citywide compensation and classification study to the Budget & Public Employees Committee on Nov. 5, recommending an overhaul of pay ranges for general (civil‑service) employees and targeted adjustments to bring many classifications nearer to market rates.

Mark Holcomb, the Evergreen project manager, said the firm compared nearly 200 positions with peer jurisdictions and found the city’s pay ranges trailed market benchmarks substantially at range minimums. Evergreen recommended moving general classifications to an open range plan with a market‑adjusted minimum and maximum; uniformed fire employees would retain a step matrix but be adjusted upward. Examples in the report showed proposed minimum adjustments for building inspectors and utility workers and proposed increases for many tree trimmers and other trades. The consultant recommended a phased approach that would bring most ranges within about 5% of the firm’s market benchmark while limiting initial costs by adjusting only employees below the new pay minimums.

City staff and consultants noted several operational caveats: implementation requires collective‑bargaining negotiations for represented employees, across‑the‑board increases would affect non‑civil‑service positions as well and filling longstanding vacancies could raise payroll costs further. Evergreen suggested implementation in 2026 following negotiated terms and budget ordinance adjustments; the committee asked for follow‑up briefings and cost projections for final budget planning.

Committee members praised the analysis and requested additional sessions to consider details before ordinance language is drafted; staff said the budget office had set aside an amount in the fiscal plan to support pay adjustments and that further deliberation will be coordinated with personnel and unions.