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Cochran council approves 5.53% pay increase for fire, public works and administration after vetoed budget
Summary
After Mayor Billy Yeomans vetoed the council's June 14 budget to force further review of pay equity, the Cochran City Council approved a FY2024'25 amendment that grants a 5.53% increase to the Fire Department, Public Works and Administration by a 4'2 vote; an earlier motion to give the fire department an 11.06% raise failed.
Mayor Billy Yeomans called a special Cochran City Council meeting June 29 to reconsider the FY 2024'25 budget after he vetoed the version adopted June 14 to allow further discussion of pay equity for the Fire Department, Administration and Public Works. City Manager Richard Newbern presented four options for adjustments to personnel costs, including a 3.5% cost-of-living increase and targeted raises that ranged from an 11.06% boost for the fire department only to an 11.06% increase for multiple departments.
The council debated whether to prioritize an immediate, larger increase for the fire department or to distribute a smaller raise across several departments. Councilmember Shane Savant argued for a phased approach, citing the city's financial constraints and previous consideration of a millage-rate increase. Councilmember Gary Ates urged treating departments equally and supported a smaller across-the-board increase. Councilmember Carla Coley noted that the police department received an 11.06% increase in February 2022 and said the fire department should be addressed; Councilmember Keith Anderson urged the council to follow through on commitments and suggested revisiting pay levels next year if a smaller increase is adopted now.
Councilmember Savant moved to raise the budget to $4,576,590 and provide an 11.06% increase for the Fire Department only; Councilmember Carla Coley seconded. That motion failed on a 2-4 vote. Councilmember Gary Ates then moved to provide a 5.53% increase to Public Works, the Fire Department and Administration, with a commitment to re-evaluate department pay next year; Councilmember Andrew Lemmon seconded. The motion passed 4-2 on a roll call vote: Anderson Yes; Ates Yes; Coley No; Lemmon Yes; Savant No; Tedders Yes.
The City Manager's options included estimated dollar impacts: the proposed 3.5% cost-of-living increase and new employee benefits would cost about $99,277; an 11.06% increase to the fire department only was estimated at $41,100; a 5.53% increase to Fire, Public Works and Administration was estimated at $74,200; and an 11.06% increase to the three departments was estimated at $148,401. The council did not specify implementation dates beyond adopting the amendment during the special meeting and directed that pay be revisited in the following budget cycle.
Mayor Yeomans thanked the council and adjourned the meeting at approximately 9:45 a.m.
