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Budget panel recommends due-pass for pay ordinance, advancing 3% raise and compensation-range changes for city workers
Summary
The Budget & Public Employees Committee issued a due-pass recommendation for Board Bill 12, which includes a 3% across-the-board FY27 raise and changes to minimum salary ranges and promotional pay steps intended to bring many job minima closer to market. The motion passed 4-0.
The Budget and Public Employees Committee voted to recommend advancing Board Bill 12, a pay ordinance that would give St. Louis city employees a 3% across-the-board raise and change salary-range rules to better align minimums with market rates.
Brian Light, the city's director of personnel, told the committee the measure is tied to a classification study that moves many minimum salary ranges closer to market (to within roughly 5%). He cited several examples: raising the Building Inspector I minimum by about 24.8% (which would produce pay increases of about 20.7% for roughly one-quarter of inspectors), moving utility-worker minimums up near 22% (enabling broadly higher raises for utility staff), and raising the minimum for tree-trimmers by about 10% with some individuals receiving roughly 13.5% increases. The ordinance would also open ranges (removing rigid step progression) and let appointing authorities offer starting salaries above the previous first-step rule when candidates have qualifying experience.
Committee members asked whether the measure would fit into the FY27 budget being considered under Board Bill 1. Light said personnel had coordinated closely with the budget office and was confident the 3% and the salary-range adjustments could be accommodated in the FY27 numbers, "barring any surprises" related to the city's negotiations or actions by the Board of Police Commissioners.
Aldermen who questioned the proposal praised the direction and asked to be added as cosponsors. Vice Chair Browning, Alderman Devote and others expressed that the changes should help recruit and retain staff, especially in building, streets and other service divisions with long-standing vacancies. After closing remarks from the bill's sponsor, the committee accepted a motion for a due-pass recommendation. The clerk recorded four aye votes and the motion carried.
The committee's vote advances Board Bill 12 to the full council process for further consideration and final action.
Next steps: Board Bill 12 will be scheduled for the Board of Aldermen's consideration; if the full board approves the ordinance, the pay changes would apply for FY27 per the language under consideration.
