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Lancaster employees urge council to address pay disparities after large police/fire raises
Summary
Solid waste and wastewater employees told the Lancaster City Council they feel undervalued after public-safety raises far outpaced a 3% increase given to many operations staff, and urged leaders to follow pay-study guidance and inspect frontline work firsthand.
Lancaster city employees used the public-comment period to press the City Council to tackle pay disparities and staffing shortfalls that they say are hurting morale and service delivery.
"I'm a citizen of the city of Lancaster. I'm also an employee of the city of Lansing," said Rudy Schmidt, identifying himself as a wastewater worker. Schmidt described aging sewer infrastructure, staff shortages and the risk that deferred maintenance would become more costly. "If we don't do it right, it can cost a lot of money," he told the council.
Greg Summers, who identified himself as a Solid Waste Department employee, thanked department leaders for meeting with staff but said many workers feel undervalued because of recent pay decisions. "Why 1 specific group gets a 28.3% raise and the rest of us only get 3%?" Summers asked, saying the disparity has left employees demoralized and considering doing the minimum required and going home.
Council members and staff responded in the meeting's budget discussion by noting the council must balance market-rate comparisons, statutory limits and revenue availability. The mayor said the council has tried to follow a 2019 pay study when implementing raises but acknowledged the community's market-rate context and growth may require further review.
The comments came ahead of a budget second reading that council approved later in the meeting; employees asked council to consider targeted pay adjustments and to observe frontline operations to better understand the work involved.
The council did not announce a specific follow-up schedule during the meeting; council members reiterated they are open to reviewing compensation as revenue and priorities allow.
