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Newton council adopts pay-plan changes for one-third of staff, funds budget amendment
Summary
Council adopted a budget ordinance amendment to implement a one-third pay-and-classification study covering public-works, police, parks and related divisions; City Manager Todd Clark said the adjusted annual cost is $345,965 and the immediate budget increase is $153,850.
Newton City Council voted Jan. 5 to implement results of a pay-and-classification study covering roughly one-third of city staff.
City Manager Todd Clark reviewed the background: the city adopted a rolling approach to pay-and-classification reviews and contracted a consultant in FY2020 to study selected departments. Clark said the initial cumulative impact reported to council in January 2020 was $257,650, but after pandemic delays and subsequent promotions and merit adjustments the city’s adjusted annual cost is now $345,965. For the current fiscal year, Clark said staff recommended a budget amendment representing a $153,850 increase to cover the remaining six months of the fiscal year (plus three additional months for the sanitation division).
Clark described proposed funding adjustments including a $16,550 reduction in contingency within the Water & Sewer budget rather than using fund balance. Council then voted unanimously to adopt the budget ordinance amendment implementing the pay study.
The amendment itemized impacts by department: General Fund increases included $98,200 for police employees, $26,100 for sanitation, $17,300 for parks and recreation, and $8,700 for streets; Powell Bill Fund increase was $3,550 and Water & Sewer Fund increase was $16,500. The council record notes staff had already advanced some sanitation adjustments in October 2020 due to severe staffing shortfalls.
The ordinance and related documents are on file with the city clerk.
