The Biddeford City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to give the city’s non-union employees a one-half percent pay increase.
Earlier this year, the council completed negotiations with union employees. Those negotiations resulted in a four percent cost-of-living raise. Meanwhile, during this year’s budget process, non-union employees were allocated a 3.5 percent increase.
Those supporting the half percent increase said it was a matter of fairness, arguing that non-union employees should get the same increase given to union employees.
“All of our employees are facing the same inflationary pressures when it comes to housing food and utilities,” said Councilor Doris Ortiz. “Citizens want and demand services, and we have to acknowledge employee turnover. We’re not going to be able to recruit or retain employees if we ignore their challenges.”
According to acting city manager Brian Phinney, the half-percent increase this year could be covered by a personnel reserve account in the city’s budget.
Phinney also said the modest increase would bring the city closer to salaries offered by other nearby communities
Phinney told the council that personnel reserve account has a balance of approximately $26,000.
Former city councilor Stephen St. Cyr, however, told the council that he could see no new information since the council finalized the city’s annual budget in June.
“Taxpayers are also facing inflationary pressures, and you have to look out for them too,” St. Cyr said.
Councilor Marc Lessard also raised concerns about the proposal, pointing out that the recent Consumer Price Index reporting showed only a 2.7 percent increase in June.
“When we were working on the budget – just a few weeks ago – we were hoping for and expected a 3.5 percent increase or less,” Lessard said. “How many times to do we go back to the budget just because we want to spend more money?”
“This is a never-ending story of us spending more than what we budgeted,” he added.
Mayor Marty Grohman reminded councilors and members of the public that the city already has the funds in reserve to cover the increase.
Councilors William Ehmiser and Dylan Doughty were absent from the meeting.
Lessard was the only councilor who voted against the increase.
The city’s non-union employees include department heads and some administrative positions, such as emergency dispatchers.
____________
Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com
NEVER MISS ANOTHER UPDATE! Subscribe for free today!
THE BIDDEFORD GAZETTE 