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Council reviews proposal to raise starting pay for sanitation truck drivers amid staffing shortages
Summary
City staff proposed raising starting pay for solid‑waste CDL truck drivers from $18.72 to $22.81 per hour and moving the job grade from 13 to 14 to reduce a 40–43% turnover rate; staff estimated a net payroll impact of about $227,866 in future years and said the change aims to reduce attrition costs and maintain timely trash collection.
City staff told the Decatur City Council on July 20 that the city faces persistent sanitation driver shortages and recommended reclassifying truck driver job grades from 13 to 14 and raising starting pay from $18.72 to $22.81 per hour. Personnel‑board approval was reported; staff said the change is intended to recruit and retain CDL drivers and reduce a reported 40–43% turnover rate that creates operational disruption and higher incidental costs.
Staff outlined an estimated full‑year cost impact of roughly $227,866 for the payroll change, but said the city expects some cash savings on attrition‑related costs such as training and insurance claims when experienced drivers stay on the job. The presentation included an annualized attrition cost estimate range of $151,000–$280,000 and said the current year’s increase can be absorbed within the existing budget because vacancies are offsetting payroll expenses.
Council members asked about the number of current openings (four, soon to be five) and operational strain, including increased overtime when crews are short. A sanitation employee who came to the microphone described stepping in to run trucks during vacancies to keep collection on schedule; councilors thanked staff and emphasized the public‑service imperative of timely trash pickup.
No final vote on pay adjustments was recorded during the work session; staff said they will provide supporting documentation and that Daniel (a personnel/finance contact) will be available at a future meeting for additional financial detail.
