Belle Isle council approves unified step pay plan and budget amendments

The Belle Isle City Council on March 17 voted to adopt a unified step pay plan intended to standardize compensation across city positions and to approve related budget amendments to implement the plan.

Mayor Jason Carson read a prepared statement saying he supported the proposed pay adjustments "contingent upon the implementation of a structured annual performance review process for all employees," and that cost-of-living increases should be incorporated into a tiered, performance-based system. Chief Grimm and an Evergreen Solutions representative were available during the meeting to answer technical questions about the plan.

The measure, introduced as Resolution 26-03, was described in the reading as approving a unified step pay plan, assigning positions to pay grades, transitioning employees using a hybrid-year parity method, and authorizing "an additional appropriation not to exceed $205,000 for fiscal year 2025–26 to implement the Unified Step Pay Plan." Council members asked for clarity about how employees would be placed on steps; staff said the hybrid model accounts for years of service and classification and uses a rubric for crediting prior law-enforcement experience.

Commissioner Bobrowski said he was concerned the council was moving too quickly and sought clearer dollar-by-dollar examples for nonuniform employees. Kirk Levitt, who identified himself as a member of the budget committee, said the committee endorsed the study and that the report "is really the direct way to go." Chief Grimm and finance staff said supplemental materials showing step placements were available in the February 17 packet and could be provided again.

After discussion, the council also read and approved Resolution 26-04 to amend the FY 2025–26 budget to fund implementation. During the reading staff recorded additional appropriations in the general fund in the amount of $81,632 and in the stormwater fund in the amount of $9,086 to support the plan.

The council approved the pay-plan resolution and the budget amendment by roll call. The mayor and commissioners emphasized the pay plan should be tied to an annual performance-evaluation process before increases are awarded, and staff said they have a draft evaluation plan to match the new pay structure.

The city manager and finance director will oversee implementation and return to the council with the mechanics for placement and any required policy documents. The resolutions allow the city manager to implement the plan and provide for an effective date as described in the adopted documents.