CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY SALARIES ON LOW END, CITY MANAGER SAYS

Cape Girardeau city government salaries are on the low side for a community this size, City Manager J. Ronald Fischer says.

"Historically, Cape has been in that position," he added. Proposed salary hikes won't change the situation.

Cape Girardeau's $55 million budget includes merit pay raises of 2.5 to 3 percent for city employees.

The city has budgeted $12.5 million for salaries and fringe benefits, 5 percent more than last year.

Fischer said he expects department and division heads will receive 3 percent pay raises.

"These are all salaried people. They are all expected to work overtime without any additional compensation and they do.

"I personally would give them 3 percent," he said.

None of the city's 13 top officials have received pay raises yet, even though the 1996 fiscal year began last Saturday.

Fischer said that is because all employee pay raises are given on the anniversary date of their hiring.

For Fischer and City Attorney Warren Wells, the pay raises mean little. Both are leaving before their pay raises would kick in.

Fischer is retiring. His last day is July 27. Wells is leaving Aug. 14 to take a job with Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville.

Fischer said he expects nearly if not all of the city's employees will receive merit pay raises.

Last year, city employees received both 3 percent merit pay hikes and across-the-board raises of $1,000.

Fischer said some police officers and firefighters will receive more than a 3 percent pay hike this fiscal year as a result of promotions.

Also, all firefighters who complete a certification program will receive a $50 increase in their monthly pay, Fischer said. Such certification will help lower the city's fire insurance rating.

Cape Girardeau city salaries for 1995-96. *

J. Ronald Fischer, city manager $59,819 **

Doug Leslie, assistant city manager, $56,703

Warren Wells, city attorney, $54,778 **

Robert Ridgeway, fire chief, $49,778

Howard Boyd, police chief, $47,035

Kent Bratton, city planner, $45,594

John Richbourg, finance director, $43,285

Rick Murray, inspection services director, $37,452

J. Kensey Russell, city engineer, $42,233

Dan Muser, parks and recreation director, $42,230

Dan Ward, human resources director, $42,202

Mary Miller, Convention and Visitors Bureau director, $37,923

Greg Chenoweth, airport manager, $37,080.

* Figures assume a 3 percent merit pay hike on the anniversary of the hiring of each official.

* Both the city manager and city attorney salaries are listed at their current level. Both are leaving before the dates that their pay raises would take ffect. Fischer is retiring later this month and Wells is leaving in August to take a job with Northeast Missouri State University.