Top city employees will receive salary increases in the next 12
months after the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved the
generous wage increments last week.
Morgan Hill – Top city employees will receive salary increases in the next 12 months after the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved the generous wage increments last week.
Upper and middle managers and their assistants will receive a 3 percent raise July 1 followed by a 2 percent bump Dec. 30. All other benefits will remain the same for the roughly 40 employees, including health care and retirement packages.
Ten of the employees include administrators, department heads and the chief of police who currently earn between $120,000 and $150,000 per year.
The city would not disclose individual employees’ exact salaries citing privacy reasons. The Times has officially requested the salaries through a Public Records Act request.
San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Rosemary Pfeiffer in 2004 ruled in favor of five cities that fought a request from the Palo Alto Daily News, which had requested names and salaries of employees in 10 Bay Area cities. The legal question of the public’s right to now what city employees earn is still being challenged in court. The city is using this ruling to deny the salary information to the Times.
The raises will cost the city nearly $216,000 during the fiscal year that starts July 1. It will be the second year in a row high-level employees will receive a salary increase.
“It’s to make sure our employees are fairly compensated,” said Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate. “I firmly believe our employees do a great job and this will help us retain the people in these positions.”
According to a staff report signed by Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes, the salary package acknowledges employees’ “hard work” and is “fiscally prudent.”
“Periodically the salary ranges are compared with those of other local government employers in this region so that the city remains competitive in the labor market in order to hire and retain the best employees,” the report states.
City officials up for raises include department heads, various program managers and coordinators, supervisors and other office administrators.
The city has about 200 regular employees when all vacancies are filled. Additionally, about 40 temps are hired each year.
The total payroll for the 2007-08 fiscal year is projected to be $24.2 million out of a $141 million city budget. About $6 million is for benefits, including retirement, health, Medicare, worker’s compensation, disability and life insurance.
Additional labor costs during the current fiscal year included $720,000 for overtime, $101,000 for uniform allowances and $317,600 in other costs.
PAY RAISES FOR TOP EMPLOYEES
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About 40 top-level city employees will receive a 3 percent raise July 1 followed by a 2 percent raise Dec. 30.
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The raises will cost the city nearly $216,000.
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The employees received a similar raise last year.
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The city has about 200 regular employees.
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The projected payroll for fiscal year 2007-08 is $24.2 million out of a $141 million city budget.
