Changes are in store for the City of Indianola’s employee pay structure for non-skilled, entry-level workers.
Two days after its regular meeting this week, the board was back at work during a special called meeting to hammer out the pay structure, brought to the table by City Clerk Angela Goodwin.
“We’ve got to adopt a pay structure,” Goodwin said. “Right now, we don’t have anything.”
Goodwin, along with CPA Dr. Phyllis Rhodes (present by phone), proposed moving away from the merit-based system the city has operated under for some time.
The proposal is not retroactive, meaning employees who have been on the job for years who meet the new pay scale criteria will not automatically see a pay increase.
This does not include the fire department or the police department.
First, new non-skilled, entry-level workers will start at $10 per hour.
After a 90-day probationary period, they will see a 3% increase to $10.30 per hour.
After two years on the job, with a good evaluation, they will qualify for a 3% pay raise.
After four years on the job, with a good evaluation, they will qualify for a 3% pay raise.
After five years on the job, with a good evaluation, they will qualify for a 3% pay raise.
The board did leave room in its final motion for consideration of cost-of-living increases on an annual basis, and those who have reached the maximum pay level may qualify for that as well.
Of course, there are costs to making changes like these.
“There will be no pay raises for the fiscal year 24/25,” Goodwin said. “Second, pay will not be retroactive for fiscal year 2024. Employees who met their requisite years of service who are not currently compensated at a correlated rate will be increased in the 24/25 budget year.”
Public Works Director Elvis Pernell noted that he has at least three workers who will be coming off of probation and making $10.30 per hour, and he has employees who have been with the city for years who are making the same level.
“We are aware of that,” Goodwin said. “We considered that…Those guys who have been there for seven years, 30 years, 10 years, those guys we will address in the 2024/25 cost of living adjustment during budget season.”
Board Attorney Kimberly Merchant (present by phone) noted the current pay structure has led to the inequities described by Pernell. She said the new structure, when fully implemented, will see to it that raises are primarily given based on years of service and not merit.
There was a lengthy discussion about establishing a similar pay structure for skilled workers, although the board took no action on that Wednesday night.
The board did pledge to revisit that and said the overall pay structure for the city is a work in progress.
Ultimately, Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder made the motion to accept Goodwin’s recommendation, with the only change being that the step increases would be a flat 3% after the proposed criteria were met.
The board voted 3-1 in favor. Ward 3 Alderman Ruben Woods voted nay. Ward 2 Alderman Darrell Simpson was not present.
The board did not commit to automatic annual cost of living increases. Those will be considered during budget season.
