All non-salaried Jefferson city employees will receive pay raises beginning January 1, with police officers getting a larger increase than other employees.
A new 5-year contract with AFSCME Local 3949 was ratified earlier by the union and by the city council at the council’s regular meeting Dec. 8. The contract goes into effect Jan. 1, a full six months earlier than the current contract was set to expire.
The current contract was shortened after low wages paid to Jefferson police officers, as compared to officers in other departments and the Greene County sheriff’s office, prompted many to look for employment elsewhere. The Jefferson PD was in a dire staffing situation in September when the council directed city administrator Mike Palmer and city staff to fast-track a new union contract.
Effective Jan. 1, 2021, all hourly police officers (excludes the captain and the chief) will see a $2,500 increase in their annual wage. Officer Jamie Brenner, the most recently hired officer, started in November with an annual salary of $43,658. As of Jan. 1, the starting annual salary will be $47,321. Officers will receive another 4.5 percent increase July 1, 2021, and 4.25 percent increases July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. By then, the starting wage of an officer will be $54,743. Wages will be negotiated in 2024 and 2025.
Other city employees will receive a 4.5 percent wage increase on Jan. 1, 2021, and a 4 percent increase on July 1. Wages will increase 3 percent on July 1, 2022 and July 1, 2023. Their wages will also be negotiated in 2024 and 2025.
Council member Harry Ahrenholtz spoke about the negotiating process, saying there was “a lot of thought and a lot of overview by every council member.” He said he hoped the new contract “sends a strong message that we took it seriously and did the best we could with the resources available.”
No dollar figure was provided of the increased cost of the new contract to the city. The Jan. 1 wage increases will be paid during this fiscal year and were not planned for during the budget process.
