Less than a week after Portage Mayor James Snyder and the City Council’s budget committee appeared to agree on the controversial salary ordinance amendment that became a political hot potato, city leaders Wednesday unanimously approved raises for a handful of employees not represented by unions.
Now, halfway into the year, Portage leaders and residents get to brace themselves for the start of 2018 budget negotiations.
“I think the agreement’s good,” Clerk-Treasurer Chris Stidham said. “Its unfortunate it’s July, and we’re still talking about raises for employees in 2017, but it’s good we got agreement and can move forward.”
The ordinance passed Wednesday affects about six people, Snyder said. The rest of the employees were covered by the salary ordinance the mayor proposed months ago and already have begun receiving raises for whatever positions they occupy, he said.
For example, an employee who received a promotion to a higher-paying job this year already has begun receiving the increase, Snyder said.
The employees most affected by Wednesday’s amendment should have seen their checks a little fatter on Friday.
“I’m glad (the amendment) passed,” Snyder said. “Now, employees are getting paid what they should be paid.”
Snyder will have a range of salary increases to offer. The mayor also removed a major sticking point in his proposed reorganization of the parks department, including promoting one employee and giving her a substantial raise.
Last week, the parks board, with four of the five members appointed by the mayor, voted, per state law, to exert its control over the parks department and override the salary ordinance the council accepted last December.
The move gave the mayor control over the department and stripped the council of most of its authority over parks.
The moves seemed to help the council vote in favor of the salary amendment, even if there were some concerns, according to Councilwoman Liz Modesto, D-1st, chair of the council’s budget committee.
“We came to an agreement and we liked the increases (Snyder) was giving everyone,” said Modesto, who remained opposed to giving the mayor wide salary ranges for city workers. “I’m more concerned about (Snyder) showing favoritism to certain employees that support him.”
The three-member city council budget committee and Snyder’s administration will begin working on the 2018 budget in about three weeks.
“I know what (budget committee members) want, and hopefully what they want doesn’t change like it does every time we talk,” Snyder said. “They want smaller ranges, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
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Modesto described Snyder’s awarding of raises before the full council voted on the salary ordinance amendment “underhanded,” but Modesto also sounded more positive about the 2018 budget negotiations.
“I think (the salary amendment) sets a good tone as to what we need to do for 2018,” Modesto said. “I hope it sets a good tone with the mayor knowing he can’t propose a $400 raise for somebody and a “$12,000 raise for somebody else. Hopefully, we should be able to work better with the mayor on these.”
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.