MONROE — The Common Council’s Salary and Personnel Committee is reviewing salary increases for city employees for the 2025 budget year and they will likely see a 3% cost of living jump if the plan wins final approval.
The city employee health insurance plan also is likely to see some changes, including an overall premium cost increase of 8.9%, according to officials at the Sept. 23 committee meeting.
A wage plan approved in Sept. 2023 called for including a cost of living (COLA) increase on Jan. 1 each year for all employees. In addition to a 3% COLA, there is also a separate “step increase” each year for the first decade or so of employment on the employee’s anniversary date, provided performance goals are met for each position.
For example, on the step salary schedule reviewed by the committee, a custodian just starting — the lowest job on the city scale — would earn about $39,000, or $18.76 per hour the first year; rising to almost $50,000, or about $24.01 per hour after 11 step increases.
The highest paid employees include such positions as police chief and director of public works. Both those jobs are on the same wage schedule, rising from about $112,385, or $54.03 an hour at the first step, to $143,875, or $69.17 per hour, after all 11 step increases.
Committee Chair Ald. Mary Jane Grenzow said the city must balance fairness to employees and taxpayers while also making sure the jobs pay a competitive wage to keep and retain talent.
“We have to treat our employees right and give them a decent wage,” Grenzow said. “We also have to respect what taxpayers can afford.”
The council is also eying a renewal of the city’s health insurance plan. Premiums for the plan are paid 85% by the city and 15% through employee contributions.
New this year is a recommendation to eliminate the health reimbursement account (HRA) health benefit. An HRA reimburses employees for medical expenses. HRAs are funded by employers and are not traditional health coverage.
That program while well-intentioned, created confusion among the staff and was difficult to implement, officials said.
Thus, the benefit package is going to instead emphasize the Health Savings Account (HSA) — allowing employees to set aside money for health care needs on a pre-tax basis — to help workers pay for health needs.
“That has been a source of some frustration,” said City Administrator Brittney Rindy.
Grenzow praised city workers and the value they provide taxpayers.
“We have good long-term employees in our city and we need to keep them,” Grenzow said.
In addition to Grenzow, he committee includes alders Lynne Kleven, Heidi Treuthardt, and Corinne Wartenweiler.
The salary and benefits must still be approved by the full Common Council. Both items will be reviewed as part of final 2025 budget discussions, according to Rindy.