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Council committee adopts ordinance raising chiefs’ pay after heated debate over prior increases and budget impact
Summary
After extended questioning about previous large adjustments and constituent complaints following a failed safety levy, the committee adopted an ordinance adjusting chiefs’ and deputy chiefs’ pay across 2026–2028 with additional $2 annual mark adjustments to restore rank differentials; the committee heard a three-year cost estimate of roughly $109,522.45.
The finance committee adopted an ordinance setting compensation and policy for chiefs and deputy chiefs after extended debate over rank differentials, market comparisons and budget impact.
Christina Barn, assistant director in Human Resources, presented the ordinance and said the proposal would apply a 4% wage increase in 2026, a 3% increase in 2027 and a 3% increase in 2028, with an additional $2 "mark adjustment" each year to restore and maintain rank pay separation between chiefs and deputy chiefs. "We changed [the health insurance waiver] to be the same that we did with all the union contracts and the other policies," Barn said while outlining the proposal and its intent to avoid wage compression.
Council members pressed for exact dollar differentials and questioned why large increases had been approved previously. One council member said constituents who opposed the recent safety levy were upset by additional pay increases, and others sought clarity on whether the proposal maintained the same inter-rank spread the city has historically used. The auditor provided a multi-year cost estimate: for chiefs and deputy chiefs combined, the incremental cost recorded on the meeting transcript was 2026: $25,912.62; 2027: $41,187.11; 2028: $42,422.72; a three-year total of $109,522.45 (figures cited by the auditor on the record).
Proponents argued the adjustment is needed to avoid future compression and to remain competitive in the labor market; opponents said the timing is difficult given the city's budget pressure and a recently defeated safety levy.
A motion to adopt the ordinance was moved and seconded and the committee approved the ordinance by recorded voice vote (committee recorded as passing). The committee did not identify roll-call yes/no names in the transcript; the motion was recorded in the meeting as passing.
Why it matters: The ordinance changes pay-setting policy for high-level public-safety management and affects the city’s personnel costs. The committee heard both that not making adjustments could force larger increases later and that the city must be mindful of near-term budget constraints.
Next steps: The ordinance will be forwarded to the full Newark City Council for final consideration (or is placed on the council docket per committee practice). Staff and the auditor will provide finalized cost calculations and any additional budgetary language as requested by council members.
