Aldermen follow salary study recommendations

Dave Marner, Managing Editor
Posted 11/14/18

Owensville city workers received 2-percent raises on their Nov. 9 paychecks retroactive to July 1 following a motion approved unanimously by aldermen on Nov. 5.

The measure follows a series of …

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Aldermen follow salary study recommendations

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Owensville city workers received 2-percent raises on their Nov. 9 paychecks retroactive to July 1 following a motion approved unanimously by aldermen on Nov. 5.

The measure follows a series of workshops where aldermen reviewed findings of a $29,051 compensation study commissioned earlier this year which determined the city needed to adjust employee wages “up to the new range minimum for a total cost of $78,990.” The report by The Austin Peters Group, Inc., suggested city officials “develop pay ranges that follow the market average.”

The figure cited in the report did not include seasonal waterpark staff or park staff who had previously received raises during the Owensville Park Board’s fiscal year 2018-19 budget planning.

That market average, the report noted, means five employers will pay more than the city does and five will pay less than Owensville for similar jobs.

The wage increases approved last week do not include the full-time and part-time parks department staff who received 2-percent raises effective July 1 with the start of the new fiscal year under the separate parks budget. Seasonal waterpark staff were also not part of the retroactive raise proposal.

Austin Peters Group personnel conducted employee interviews, received 21 responses to employee surveys, and toured workplaces. The firm also surveyed 19 government agencies in the region and received responses from 16 of those. Those included municipal and county governments and a school district. 

Five businesses in the private sector were also sent surveys with all five responding, according The Austin Peters Group report to the city.

The report noted adjusting employee payroll up into the pay range based on their time of service would cost the city $15,461. The larger number was the figure cited as funds city officials should reach in budget planning over the next two years.

The report suggested the city annually move the pay ranges according to an index following Missouri employee pay ranges and annually adjust employee pay based on performance. The study also suggested the city “move to meet market peers in vacation and sick leave and health insurance — particularly for the individual.”

The raises approved this month come without evaluations, noted City Administrator Nathan Schauf. The salary report suggested the city “implement performance evaluation changes” which was an item aldermen agreed they could look into developing in the near future.

Budget planning for the current fiscal year included the provision for giving city workers a raise retroactive to the July 1 starting date after aldermen had the chance to review the compensation study.

“Down the road, future boards will say ‘this is eye-opening,’” said Ward 1 Alderman Cathy Lahmeyer. “It’s a great document.”

The study reviewed all positions within the city and examined general compensation, health insurance coverage, retirement benefits, and leave and vacation benefits. The firm will also provide the city with “draft job descriptions and guidance.”

The report evaluated and classified all city employee positions into pay grades. The firm will provided recommendations and training for conducting performance evaluations.