This is a question being asked by many Shreveport citizens. Quietly because no one, including this writer, want to be the proverbial bad guy.
The budget adopted by the Shreveport city council for 2022 included a 2.5% pay increase for all city workers.
Council members Grayson Boucher, John Nickelson and Levette Fuller wanted a pay raise of 13% for Shreveport's first responders to bring their salaries more into line with adjoining cities. They were concerned by the loss of personnel for higher pay and the large number of unfilled first responder jobs.
This proposal was defeated by 3-3 council vote.
Thereafter council member Tabitha Taylor sponsored a 13% pay raise proposal for all city workers. This is on the upcoming Jan. 11 council agenda.
All council members wanted the city's workforce to get than a 2.5% pay increase.
The first question that should be honestly and openly addressed is the basis for the across the board pay raise proposal for all employees?
Is it for "fairness", i.e., to treat all employees the same?
Is it based on "importance", in the sense of government operations?
Is it based on "catch up", since city employees have not received pay raises?
Is it based on pay scales in the private sector?
Good government principles dictate that a substantial pay increase be fully evaluated considering categories of workers, appropriate salaries, and value of city employment (job security, paid sick leave, pension and health insurance contributions, etc.) versus the private sector.
The second inquiry is equally if not more important, that being how to pay for the raises this year and the years to come. A fundamental principle of good government is not to base payroll on non-reoccurring revenue.
Reportedly the suggested pay raises for this year, and presumably next year will be subsidized by American Rescue Fund Plan moneys received by the city
The council would be wise to get off the emotional band wagon and carefully review the decision for across-the-board pay raises. If the vote is delayed, the any pay raises can be made retroactive.