Finance and Personnel Committee approves $17 wage floor for seasonal staff, backs higher fire pay

The Algoma Finance and Personnel Committee on Sept. 16 approved a package of wage changes for 2026 that raises pay for several part‑time and seasonal positions to $17 an hour and applies a 3% increase to many other nonunion positions.

The committee, meeting at Algoma City Hall, approved a motion to build $17/hour into the budget for the janitor, groundskeeper, marina worker, park seasonal worker, recreation supervisor, youth‑club staff and summer parks positions while applying the 3% increase shown in staff materials to the remaining listed roles. Clerk recorded roll‑call votes: Dawn Kidd — No; John Ortlieb — Yes; Casey Boer — Yes; Amy Johnson — Yes; Wayne Schmidt — Yes; Mitch Swedberg — Yes; Scott Bridal — No; Kevin Schmidt — Yes. The motion carried.

Why it matters: council members said recruitment and retention challenges for seasonal jobs and the low number of annual hours for some positions make a $17/hour floor a modest but potentially meaningful improvement. Staff estimated the incremental cost for the positions singled out would be small (committee discussion estimated an incremental $2,600 for a subset and larger estimates for broader changes if applied to all positions on a page).

Discussion and scope: the committee debated fairness across positions — several members argued a higher floor would help staffing while others cautioned about paying older employees disproportionately more than seasonal youth workers. Members agreed to handle the wage changes sheet‑by‑sheet and to revisit broader adjustments next year if needed.

Separate votes on emergency services and full‑time staff: the committee separately approved a 3% increase for rescue (EMS) positions (paid from rescue revenues) and a 5% increase for the fire department. The fire pay motion passed with one abstention (Wayne Schmidt) and the rest voting yes (motion carried 6–1). Staff said a 3% raise for fire would net roughly $2,200 annually while a 5% raise would be about $3,600; the chief had recommended 5% as a recruitment incentive.

What’s next: the committee’s recommendations will be incorporated into the draft 2026 budget for council review. The committee also scheduled a budget workshop for Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. to continue wage and budget conversations.

Quotes: Jeff, a finance presenter to the committee, told members about the city’s broader financing options during the meeting: "When you price a security ... their yield on this is 2.95%." Chair and other members framed the wage vote as a targeted step to ease hiring difficulties rather than a final, comprehensive pay plan.

Details not specified: exact total net budget increase for all wage actions combined was discussed in ranges in the meeting and will be reflected in the budget documents; where staff could not provide a precise total on the floor the article states that those totals are estimates from staff comments during the meeting.

The committee adjourned after approving the wage motions and other agenda business; the full council will consider budget details in subsequent meetings.