COLLEYVILLE--All full time city employees could get a one-time $1,280 payment in November as part of Colleyville's 2013 fiscal year budget.
The lump sum payment would cost Colleyville $229,602.This payment would especially benefit workers who make less than $30,000 a year, City Manager Jennifer Fadden said. That's about 60 employees, mostly in the parks and recreation and public works departments.Colleyville froze wages in 2009 but has issued lump sums equal to a percentage of salaries, including a one percent sum paid last year. City staff considered doing something similar this year but opted to give everyone the same amount so it benefits the lower-income employees most."We understand that our higher paid employees work hard and earn what they earn because that's what the job is worth," Fadden said. "As the leadership of the organization, we certainly have an appreciation for those employees that are trying to make a living and support a family making $30,000 a year. Their insurance costs are the same as mine. (The raise) goes a lot farther for them."Mayor David Kelly agreed."They're impacted greater versus the higher levels," Kelly said. "It hits them harder."Police officers are the exception because the city plans to overhaul the officers' pay structure to reduce the compression issues. Salary compression occurs when there's little difference in salary, meaning employees with years of experience earn the same or even less than new recruits.In Colleyville's case, it happened because the city hasn't issued raises in several years but the starting salaries were increased to compete with other cities.The city will spend $213,000 the pay scale.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
