Alderman from the 14th secures citywide 3% pay increase as Board Bill 12 is perfected and passed

The Board of Aldermen perfected and later passed Board Bill 12 on May 21, 2026, adopting a new compensation structure that includes a minimum 3% pay increase for employees moving to an open‑range pay schedule. The sponsor said the ordinance implements recommendations from a citywide classification and compensation study by Evergreen Solutions and will be reflected in the FY27 budget cycle, with the ordinance effective after June 14, 2026.

"This 3% will allow for recommendations, including some title changes and adoption of new open pay ranges," the Alderman from the 14th said, explaining that the ordinance repeals a prior 3% pay increase and replaces it with the study-backed schedule. He credited personnel director Brian Light for work on the proposal.

Members asked how the open‑range schedule will be applied. The Alderwoman from the 12th asked whether starting pay under the open range would be determined by experience and who makes that determination. "It would be determined most likely between the director and the personnel," the sponsor responded, adding that department heads would work with the personnel director to place hires on the appropriate range and that raising minimums will lift starting salaries for many positions.

The sponsor said the open range will produce higher starting wages for some jobs and allow departments to collaborate with the personnel office on appointments. He noted the city had already approved a one‑time lump sum payment recently and that civil service employees would see this 3% reflected going forward.

Co-sponsors were added before the motion to perfect was taken. The clerk recorded the roll call and the motion to perfect carried with recorded votes (the transcript records 15 aye votes). Later in the meeting the consent calendar that included Board Bill 12 advanced through third reading and final passage; the clerk recorded 15 I votes on the consent calendar.

What happens next: the ordinance will be implemented through the FY27 budget process and the personnel department will work with department heads to apply open‑range placements. The sponsor said some starting salaries may be raised "to like 45 or 46" in examples read into the record, but specific range placements will be set administratively.