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Pay and classification study flags compression in public‑safety pay; budget proposes tax and utility increases to address market pressures
Summary
A MAPS Group study recommends market‑based reclassification and phased catch‑up adjustments for public‑safety roles; town staff presented a FY2026–27 budget message outlining a $720,882 gap, a proposed two‑cent ad valorem tax increase and a 10% water/wastewater rate increase to protect staffing and core services.
Becky Vzy of the MAPS Group presented a public‑safety classification and pay study to the council, explaining the methodology and recommending that the town align pay ranges with the market (roughly the 50th percentile) to improve recruitment and retention. Vzy said public‑safety jobs in the current market have seen the largest increases and flagged "compression" in the fire department in particular, where internal pay relationships are tighter than market parity would suggest.
Vzy summarized two implementation strategies: (1) for employees not on career‑ladder plans, place employees into the recommended ranges based on hire and promotion dates with incremental placement (1.5% per year of service was discussed); (2) for employees on specific career ladders (police, telecommunicators), use ladder progress to determine placement. She cautioned that the implementation cost estimate did not include benefit changes and noted the salary data were collected in February and could shift with summer market adjustments.
Town Manager Rob presented the FY2026–27 budget message: staff reported a projectioned $720,882 gap between revenues and expenditures and recommended a two‑cent ad valorem tax increase that would still leave a $414,882 appropriation from fund balance. The proposed budget also recommends a 10% increase in water and wastewater rates to cover personnel and capital needs. The presentation cited recruitment and retention challenges post‑COVID, a pending county revaluation that could change the tax base next year, and state retirement rate increases that add to personnel costs.
Council scheduled a public hearing on the proposed budget for the May 26 meeting and agreed to a budget workshop to review details. Rob emphasized that several capital purchases were deferred to limit fund‑balance use and that FEMA and state reimbursement uncertainties continue to affect longer‑term projections.
