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Committee clarifies water/sewer operator pay bumps tied to certification
Summary
The committee approved a budget amendment for water and sewer utility compensation and clarified that a 5% bump applies when an employee obtains the core water operator certification and each optional endorsement (iron removal, zeolyte softening) carries an additional one-time 2.5% bump.
The Finance & Personnel Committee approved Resolution 2026-21 on June 2 to amend the 2026 budget for water and sewer utility compensation adjustments and sought clarifying language about how certification pay was intended to be applied.
Committee members asked about wording in the resolution that could be read to imply recurring increases tied to certification renewal. Staff clarified that the structure is a one-time pay bump when an employee obtains the primary waterworks operator certification and that each optional endorsement (iron removal and zeolyte softening) would earn an additional one-time 2.5% bump at the time the endorsement is initially obtained.
"The intent is once someone obtains the water operator certification, they would get a 5% bump. The expectation is that's a one-time bump," staff said, adding that the optional certifications would each provide "an additional two and a half percent bump for each one of those at the time that it's initially obtained."
Committee members discussed whether the resolution language should be amended to more closely match the public works committee memo's Option D (which staff said described the distribution more clearly). Staff agreed the memo provided clearer language and noted the resolution amendment being approved implements the approved Option D.
Alder Madden moved approval of Resolution 2026-21 and Alder Baines seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.
