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Board passes first reading on pay correction for public safety assistant chiefs amid budget concerns
Summary
On first reading the board approved an ordinance to correct promotional pay for assistant police and fire chiefs after staff found past promotions had not yielded intended step increases. The measure passed 8‑4 with 1 abstention; aldermen debated funding and precedent and asked finance staff for a revenue‑neutral plan before second reading.
The Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Aldermen on June 23 approved on first reading Ordinance 2026‑O8, a measure to adjust promotional pay for public safety assistant chiefs to remedy earlier promotions that did not include expected step increases.
Sponsor Alderman Skidmore said the ordinance addresses a limited set of past promotions in which employees who moved up multiple ranks did not receive the step increases the personnel rules intended. "We are asking tonight to approve promotional pay to that employee," Skidmore said, emphasizing the request was to correct specific cases, not to expand pay policy across departments.
Alderman Goodwin, chair of the public safety committee, said staff had worked for months to find a legally defensible remedy and that the ordinance was the recommended solution for the immediate cases. City staff (Jesse and HR/finance staff) explained the city's updated personnel rules set department heads at a higher starting step; this ordinance is a targeted correction for assistant chiefs in police and fire.
The debate focused on two main concerns: budget timing and precedent. Several aldermen, including Alderman Robertson and Alderman Dixon, objected to amending the FY2027 budget before the fiscal year began, saying they preferred a revenue‑neutral approach or a midyear adjustment. Finance director Tamara warned that any change now would be recorded in the official budget amendments submitted to the comptroller, and staff offered options such as funding part of the increase now and funding the remainder at midyear or identifying a small revenue adjustment.
Alderman Collins and others noted the dollar impact was small relative to the city's overall budget but stressed the need for transparency about how the increase would be funded. "If we vote for this tonight, I would recommend it come to the finance committee so we can show how to balance it," said Alderman Sassy, who also raised concerns about setting a precedent across other departments.
On the recorded first‑reading vote the ordinance passed with eight votes in favor, four opposed and one abstention. The minutes list those voting in favor (Aldermen Burgdorf, Skidmore, Ward, Goodwin, Garten, Collins, Robertson and Evans), those opposed (Dixon, Garza, Sassy and Mayor Clary) and Alderman Martin recorded as abstaining. Council directed staff to return with a revenue‑neutral funding plan for final adoption at second reading.
The ordinance as considered modifies the personnel rules section on promotional pay for public safety assistant chiefs and includes an appropriation adjustment to the proposed FY2027 budget to fund the correction; staff told the board the amount in question is small relative to the total budget but asked the board to choose a funding approach before final adoption.
Next steps: staff will prepare a specific funding amendment for the finance committee to consider and will present a budget amendment or midyear funding plan at the next meeting cycle. The ordinance remains at first reading and requires a second reading and final vote to take effect.
