JACKSON CITY PAY PLAN REWARDS WORKER LOYALTY

JACKSON -- An employee pay plan first implemented two years ago makes city workers competitively paid compared to other cities of similar size, according to city officials.

The pay plan, which took effect for all city employees Jan. 1, 1995, resulted in immediate raises ranging from 2.1 to 19.4 percent, with and average increase of 7.89 percent.

"Some people got big raises when the pay plan was put into effect," as Larry Koenig, Jackson's assistant city administrator.

The plan has 16 steps. Newly hired employees receive a set starting salary with a raise after six months. Each Jan. 1 thereafter, employees move up one step on the pay scale.

New employees with relevant jog experience can start as high as the seventh step, with the approval of the city administrator.

Employees who have reached the top end of the pay scale receive annual salary adjustments of 1.6 percent.

Salary scales vary depending on the job position. The average starting salary, according to the scale, is $17,638 while the average at the top of the scale is $28,296.

The pay plan doesn't not include pay for overtime, which is time-and-a-half for anything over 40 hours. Employees also get time-and-a-half for working Saturdays and double-time for Sundays and holidays. Employees who are on call also receive extra compensation.

As a Jan. 1, the pay scale was adjusted with each employee moving up a step and a $500 being added to the base salary at each step. The adjustment resulted in raises averaging from 1.5 to 9.3 percent for an overall average of increase of 5.14 percent.

"We never felt when we established this that it would be something that would not require change," Koenig said.

The city's old employee compensation policy failed account for length of service. Under that plan, new employees reached the top of the pay scale after two years. Raises were given on an across-the-board basis to all employees.

"That system never rewarded people who were loyal to the city," said City Administrator Steve Wilson.

The city also provides generous medical and benefits, Wilson said.

The city pays the complete costs of medical insurance for employees and their families. Per employee, the city annually pays about $4,500 for those on the family plan and $1,700 for individuals. Employees are reimbursed for 80 percent of insurance deductable.

The city also pays the total cost of employees retirement benefits, which amounts to 10.5 to 14.4 percent of an employee's annual salary.

Wilson said salaries and benefits are a priority for the Board of Aldermen when it considers the city's yearly budget.

"We look at employee salaries and benefits first, not last, in the budget process," Wilson said.

"We feel quite fortunate to have a mayor and board that have that attitude. They do what they can for employees."