A new salary schedule adopted by City Council with a 1.5 percent increase took effect Sunday for 139 full-time and part-time employees.
The city's salary schedule is divided into four categories: clerical/office, electric utility, labor/technical/trades and professional/managerial. The categories are then divided into different levels.
Within the clerical/office category are 10 different levels with salaries ranging from entry level at an annual salary of $23,473 to a maximum of $49,254.
The electric utility category is divided into 15 levels with a $32,358 entry level to a maximum $86,239, the labor/technical/trades category has 14 different levels with salaries ranging from $29,438 to $68,955 and the professional/managerial category has 12 different levels ranging from $40,308 to $123,462.
Each position is placed in a category at one of the levels. For example, the fire chief is classified as PM-6 with a salary within the range of that classification. The fire/EMS training officer is classified as PM-3 and the fire/EMS administrative assistant, C-7.
Elected positions are outside the city's salary schedule. The salary for those positions is fixed by the council.
Catherine Fix was selected for the position of city auditor in October by the Republican Central Committee to fill a vacancy left by the death of auditor John Moss. The council approved legislation hiking the salary of the auditor by 29 percent from $21,303 to $27,624.
Human Resources Manager Jim Kovacs said the increase was to bring the salary of that position in line with the $27,624 salary of the city treasurer. Kovacs said the treasurer's salary has been at $27,624 since 2009.
Robert Plank was selected as the new treasurer in December by the Republican Central Committee due to the resignation of long-time treasurer David Hammerly.
Within the finance department, in addition to the elected positions of auditor and treasurer, are a full-time finance office administrator, a full-time payroll officer and an income tax officer, all appointed by the auditor. Also within the auditor's office is an assistant auditor.
The position of assistant auditor requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in business management, accounting or finance plus four years of training or experience in the areas of accounting or finance and two years as a supervisor. Other positions within the auditor's office are an accounts payable clerk and a purchasing/accounts receivable clerk.
Dispatchers, patrol officers and sergeants in the police department are covered under negotiated contracts and do not fall within the categories of the city's salary schedule.
Members of council and the clerk of council do not fall under the city's salary schedule. The president of council is paid $7,510 yearly and council members, $7,090.
