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Le Mars approves 3% wage increases for city bargaining unit, police and fire; volunteer pay adjusted
Summary
Council approved a two-year bargaining agreement for Le Mars employees with 3% base wage increases each year and separately approved a 3% hourly increase for non-salaried police and fire rescue personnel; the volunteer fire pay was amended to $15.75 per hour.
The Le Mars City Council approved several personnel actions addressing municipal employee compensation.
The administration reported a tentative two-year agreement with the Le Mars employee bargaining unit for fiscal years 2027–2028 that calls for a 3% increase to base wages each year; the council voted to approve the contract. Council members praised municipal employees and noted the raises reflect cost pressures.
Separately, the administration recommended a 3% hourly wage increase for non-salaried police department personnel for FY27; the council moved and approved that recommendation by voice vote. For fire rescue personnel, the administration likewise recommended a 3% hourly increase for non-salaried staff. Councilmembers discussed regional pay competition and recruitment challenges; Speaker 10 proposed amending volunteer pay to $15.75 per hour. The council approved the 3% increase for fire rescue personnel with the volunteer pay amendment.
Speakers noted the city competes with larger nearby jurisdictions for hires and that prior increases last year had brought pay closer to state averages. The council did not set specific hiring incentives beyond the wage increases during this meeting.
Next steps: The pay increases and bargaining agreement take effect in the relevant fiscal years; department heads to implement payroll changes.
