Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

January 6, 2014

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:

Casey Toomay, Budget Manager

Lori Carnahan, Human Resources Manager

CC:

Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

RE:

Commission Salary follow- up

 

 

 

Pursuant to Commission inquiry, additional information regarding city commission salaries is provided below. 

 

CPI Calculation

Using the CPI – ALL Urban Consumers, Seasonally Adjusted, U.S. city average, it is possible to calculate the 2013 equivalent of the salary of the Mayor and City Commissioners adopted in 1999.  Because the 1999 ordinance became effective in April, that month was used in the calculation.  The table below shows the results. 

1999 amount

2013 amount

$9,000

$12,558

$10,000

$13,953

 

A salary of $9,000 in 1999 would be equivalent to $12,558 in 2013.  A salary of $10,000 would be equivalent to $13,953 in 2013.  The represents an increase of almost forty percent (40%.)

 

Employee Salary History Data

Historical information on city employee salaries is attached.  It shows that from 2001 to 2011, all wages per regular FTE increased 39%.  When updated for the years 1999 to 2013, the data shows a 58.5% increase. 

 

An increase in the salary of the city commissioners and mayor of 58.5% would mean salaries of $14,263 and $15,848 respectively. 

 

MOU General Wage Adjustment Calculation

General Wage Adjustments (GWA) implemented for those employees covered under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have varied by MOU and job classification ranging from 0-4.5% per year.

 

Applying the most generous combination of General Wage Adjustments for MOU employees to commissioner salaries would result in $11,855 for commissioner and $13,172 for mayor.

 

MOU Pay Range Comparison 1999-2014

When comparing the assigned pay ranges for the MOU covered positions of police officer, detective, firefighter and fire lieutenant the largest growth from the 1999 assigned range and 2014 assigned range was with range maximum of the police officer pay grade (82.71%).  

 

Applying the 82.71% increase to the commissioner salaries would result in $16,444 for commissioner and $18,271 for mayor.