Waverly council rejects proposed rollback of certification pay after debate

The Waverly City Council considered a revision to the employee handbook that would alter certification pay after a market-comparability review indicated the city’s certification stipend was above comparable public entities. Council discussion focused on which certifications should qualify, whether multiple stipends could be stacked, retention and succession-planning effects, and protections for employees already pursuing certifications.

Councilors and staff described the existing process as flexible by design — city staff said the policy has broadly accepted state-issued certifications (for example, water and wastewater grades and certain parks/herbicide credentials) rather than a closed list — and warned that rigid lists can require frequent ordinance edits. One councilor moved an amendment to preserve a $2-per-hour increase for any employee who could demonstrate progress toward certification as of June 23, 2026; the amendment passed 3-0.

After further debate about stacking incentives and long-term budget implications, the main motion to adopt the handbook revision as proposed (resolution 2615) failed on the final vote, 1–2. Council did not adopt any change to certification pay at this meeting; no reductions in current employee pay were implemented. The council directed staff to continue refining certification eligibility and implementation details.

What happens next: Council members asked staff to provide clearer guardrails for which certifications warrant extra pay, to evaluate the fiscal impact of stacking multiple certification stipends, and to clarify whether certain certifications trigger reclassification or promotion (which could create duplicate compensation). The item will return to staff for further recommendation rather than becoming policy at this meeting.