Room for Employee Raises Included in Preliminary 2012 Budget

PROPOSED GARBAGE FEE CUTS LEFT OUT                        

The 2012 Budget Committee has included funding (about $238,000/yr) for a 2% raise next year for most city employees; but decided to leave out funding for the one-year waiver of garbage fees that had been proposed earlier by Council President Mixon.

When asked if his proposal to waive garbage fees for one year is dead Mixon replied: "It appears that way."

(Some changes to overtime policy, additional community development funding, golf course to break even and utility fund transfer matters were also recommended.)



SCOPE/TYPE RAISES YET TO BE DECIDED

The Mayor and Councilman Ford favored 2% cost of living raises for all employees; as did Quinn and Stankoski (1.5-2%) for hourly ones only-- conditionally (contingent upon results of the "pay study").

Kingrea said he strongly favors merit increases only, because across the board ones like colas "too often reward . . .  poor performance."

Quinn, Stankoski, Kingea and Mixon all agreed the results of the job description/pay study (to compare current pay scales here with comparable cities nearby) now underway should be considered before finalizing any amount of increase. The study should be completed in September.

(Note: There is some debate whether/how much the cost of living has increased here since the last raise in 2008. Local Social Security recipients are receiving none, again)

BONUSES AN OPTION INSTEAD?

Councilman Mixon said he liked the idea of a one-time bonus in the same range as a possible option instead -- as did Kingea.

Mixon: "The bonus is a good idea . . . I'm leaning that way . . . but . . . get pay study first."

Kingrea: " . . . the city of Fairhope employees have not had a raise in over two years . . . as a Thank You . . . an across the board bonus of one percent . .  might be in order . . . but any additional increase should be based on performance."

Kingrea reiterated the pay study must be completed first to establish a "base line."

Councilman Ford also reacted positively to the bonus as an option, when asked about it earlier this year by a Times reporter.

MAYOR COMMENTS ON BUDGET PROCESS

After being asked by Committee Chairman Grubin if he was satisfied with the way the new budget had been formulated, Mayor Kant only replied "I guess so."  (Kant had indicated dis-satisfaction with last year's budget process.)

(Publiher's Note: According to various City Hall sources, Mayor Kant is preparing a separate budget of his own he may submit to the council; but when asked by the Times to verify this -- and what was in it -- he failed to respond. Besides the employee raises, he has made some public comments about making changes to the sales tax, reducing utility transfers and developing the Manley Rd. recreation property.)



CITY COUNCIL MUST DECIDE

All preliminary budgets from the Mayor or Committee are just proposals -- by state law the city council is charged with the final decisions -- by majority vote.