With the first budget hearing set for Monday, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson hopes the 2017 spending plan will include the final phase of pay raises for police, firefighters and city workers currently earning less than $40,000 a year.
Police officers and firefighters were given a retroactive $2,500 pay hike at the end of 2015, with another $5,000 annual boost in salary as part of the 2016 budget. The new budget calls for them to receive an additional $2,500, bringing them to a total of $10,000 more than what they were earning two years ago.
That increase took salaries from just under $40,000 in 2014 to an anticipated total of just under $50,000 for next year, with higher-ranking police and fire officials receiving higher salaries based on their title.
“The proposal to fulfill the raise promises required us to limit our investment in other areas,” the mayor said. “We believe it is important to value the sacrifice of public safety personnel and hope the council will agree.”
The common council’s finance committee will begin Monday considering a series of proposed ordinances that comprise the budget. There may be weeks of hearings before a budget is approved.
Officials also will be asked to consider a 10 percent pay hike for employees receiving less than $40,000, many of whom are in the General Services, Parks and Maintenance departments. Freeman-Wilson, in a prepared statement, said she believes many of the workers are single parents who provide direct service to the public.
“Some of these positions have not seen raises in decades,” the mayor said. “We believe that this proposal is one way to show our gratitude.”
Finance committee chairwoman LaVetta Sparks-Wade said that while the public safety pay raises are a priority, she’s not sure there’s money for other raises, even if employees are deserving.
“With the low rate of collection we have for taxes … I just don’t see it,” she said.
The budget proposal also calls for purchases of new squad cars, along with equipment for the fire department.
“The age and condition of the equipment used by first responders is a grave concern,” Freeman-Wilson said.
Sparks-Wade said equipment also is needed for snow removal, tree trimming and demolition.
“There are potholes that need to be filled and streets that need to be cleaned to maintain a quality of life for our residents,” she said.
Freeman-Wilson said the city will be relying on outside funding sources to cover some expenses, such as $4 million received this year in County Option Income Tax Refund dollars, of which $3 million will be used for road paving.
Gary also received a $1 million grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation, and plans to seek more state funding from the Hardest Hit Fund program to help cover the cost of continued efforts to demolish decrepit structures.
Casino revenues also will help fund some city projects and services, the mayor said.
As to when the budget might be approved, Sparks-Wade noted that three of the nine common council members are new to budgeting.
“If we have to go through this line-by-line to get it right, then we’ll do it,” she said.
Sparks-Wade said there will be budget hearings Monday and possibly Thursday, along with at least two hearings the following week and more beyond that as officials aim to adopt a budget by the end of October.
Some council members have expressed interest in addressing the issue of residency for city employees during the budget process.
“I have faith in the council’s ability to be fair and vigilant in their deliberations,” Freeman-Wilson said.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
