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Richmond board raises town pay grid 4% for FY27, sets police adjustment at 2%
Summary
After extended debate about inflation, vacancy savings and regional comparators, the Richmond Select Board voted to raise the municipal pay grid by 4% for fiscal year 2027 and to apply a separate 2% adjustment to the police pay grid.
The Richmond Select Board voted June 1 to raise the town pay grid by 4% for fiscal year 2027 and to set a separate 2% adjustment for the police pay grid.
Board members said the step is intended to help retain staff and bring pay closer to regional market conditions after a period of compensation pressure. Bard moved the 4% adjustment, stating, "I move to increase the town pay grid by 4% for fiscal year 2027." The motion passed after members discussed trade-offs between following the consumer price index and keeping the budget balanced.
Supporters pointed to recent CPI increases and to neighboring employers that have moved to larger cost‑of‑living adjustments; opponents urged caution about compounding increases over multiple years. David, who seconded the pay-grid motion, framed the decision as an investment in employees and said the board must watch budget lines closely if the town overspends an individual line item.
The board separately considered police pay. Members noted the police ranks recently received a substantial market adjustment and that police pay is governed by a different contract provision. The Select Board approved a 2% increase for the police pay grid by separate motion; Caitlyn moved the police action and the board voted to adopt it.
What happens next: staff will implement the FY27 payroll adjustments and reflect the changes in the first-quarter budget monitoring. The board said it expects to revisit pay policy annually and review any fiscal impacts that arise over the next budget cycle.
