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Council adopts salary ordinance aligning pay with ratified AFSCME agreement and adds recruitment incentives
Summary
The Bloomington Common Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2026-03 to amend 2026 salary schedules to reflect a recently ratified AFSCME agreement, adding faster step progression, premiums, relocation incentives and CDL incentives intended to aid recruitment and retention.
The Bloomington Common Council voted Jan. 14 to adopt Ordinance 2026‑03, which amends the city's 2026 salary ordinance for appointed officers and AFSCME‑represented employees to align with a newly negotiated AFSCME agreement.
Shar Pachek, the city’s Human Resources director, summarized the ordinance as administrative cleanup and substantive pay‑structure changes that reflect an AFSCME contract already ratified by union members in December. "This agreement has already been voted on and it was passed, 82 to 7 in December," Pachek said, noting nine months of negotiations led to clarified grade designations, enhanced step (longevity) progressions so employees can "earn more money faster," and increases to allowances and premiums such as on‑call pay, tool and clothing allowances, and shift differentials.
Pachek also described new recruitment and retention measures included in the ordinance: relocation incentives for difficult‑to‑fill positions, CDL incentives to encourage employees to obtain commercial driver’s licenses, and funding for certain training and recertification costs. Councilors thanked staff and union negotiators for the work; no members of the public commented on this ordinance during the meeting. The roll call vote to adopt was unanimous, 8‑0.
The ordinance formalizes the AFSCME agreement within the city’s pay policy and directs Human Resources and finance staff to implement the changes during the 2026 budget cycle.
