City Pay Raises

Mayor Reynolds Got it Right on Pay Raises
Print this page Some city management personnel have been spreading misinformation about the Mayor's vote on the recent pay raise for city personnel. Mayor Reynolds did vote against the 5% across the board raise, but he explained at the time that he thought it was unfair. Mayor Reynolds spoke forcefully before the vote, saying that the lower-paid personnel deserved more than 5% and the higher paid personnel could do with less. City Manager Chester Nolen spoke in favor of the pay raise for higher paid personnel, including himself. The council voted unanimously to give the 5% across-the-board raise, and Mayor Reynolds, with the last vote, voted against it, making clear once again that he thought lower paid employees deserved more and higher paid personnel could do with less, and for that reason he was voting against it. Mayor Reynolds was right. The raise should have been scaled to give lower pay level employees a larger percentage raise than upper pay level employees. Let's look at both ends of the 5% increase and you tell me where the justice lies. City Manager Chester Nolen, who argued before the council in favor if the high increase for himself, makes $143,000 per year plus a car and other benefits and perks. He just got a $7,000 pay raise, bringing him up to $150,000 per year plus a car, benefits and perks. A $20,000 per year worker just got a $1,000 per year raise, giving him $21,000 per year. In my opinion, the men who pick up the trash at my house twice a week would come much closer to earning Mr. Nolen's $7,000 than Mr. Nolen would come to earning their $1,000. Mayor Reynolds was right. The 5% pay raise is unfair, and it is not the best use of taxpayer dollars. This was a one-time (temporary) pay raise. When it comes up again in a few months for budget considerations, I hope the council will work just a little and come up with a more fair raise. I especially hope my councilman Kyle Boles will support the Mayor at that time because I think Mayor Reynolds is on the right track. Alden Nellis

Mayor Reynolds Got it Right on Pay Raises

Some city management personnel have been spreading misinformation about the Mayor's vote on the recent pay raise for city personnel. Mayor Reynolds did vote against the 5% across the board raise, but he explained at the time that he thought it was unfair.

Mayor Reynolds spoke forcefully before the vote, saying that the lower-paid personnel deserved more than 5% and the higher paid personnel could do with less. City Manager Chester Nolen spoke in favor of the pay raise for higher paid personnel, including himself.

The council voted unanimously to give the 5% across-the-board raise, and Mayor Reynolds, with the last vote, voted against it, making clear once again that he thought lower paid employees deserved more and higher paid personnel could do with less, and for that reason he was voting against it.

Mayor Reynolds was right. The raise should have been scaled to give lower pay level employees a larger percentage raise than upper pay level employees.

Let's look at both ends of the 5% increase and you tell me where the justice lies.

City Manager Chester Nolen, who argued before the council in favor if the high increase for himself, makes $143,000 per year plus a car and other benefits and perks. He just got a $7,000 pay raise, bringing him up to $150,000 per year plus a car, benefits and perks.

A $20,000 per year worker just got a $1,000 per year raise, giving him $21,000 per year.

In my opinion, the men who pick up the trash at my house twice a week would come much closer to earning Mr. Nolen's $7,000 than Mr. Nolen would come to earning their $1,000.

Mayor Reynolds was right. The 5% pay raise is unfair, and it is not the best use of taxpayer dollars. This was a one-time (temporary) pay raise. When it comes up again in a few months for budget considerations, I hope the council will work just a little and come up with a more fair raise. I especially hope my councilman Kyle Boles will support the Mayor at that time because I think Mayor Reynolds is on the right track.

Alden Nellis