BEDFORD – During a special meeting Monday night the Bedford City council passed all three ordinances for salary increases up to the second passage. The final vote and adoption of the salary increases along with the adoption of the 2022 budget will not take place until October 18, 2021.
The City of Bedford budget is proposed at $19,744,855 with projected revenue of $20,126,354 in 2022.
Bedford City council member Judy Carlisle asked the council to reconsider giving Bedford Mayor Sam Craig and Clerk-Treasurer a larger increase than the 7 percent recommendation from the last meeting. However, Bedford City council member Dan Bortner did not think it was advisable to increase the Mayor’s salary all at one time.
“The whole purpose of the salary study was to get salaries more in line with the other three cities in the salary study,” said Carlisle. However, the council voted in a 7-0 vote to keep the increase at 7 percent as originally proposed for Elected Officials for 2022.
The three cities Bedford was compared to in the salary study were Lebanon, Huntington, and Frankfort.
In the ordinance regarding the salary approvals for the positions of police officers, firefighters, and the appointed officers and employees the city council members voted to retain their original recommendation for salary increases from the previous meetings in a 7-0 vote.
However, prior to the vote, city council member Larry Hardman asked the council to consider giving an eight percent increase across the board to all department heads instead of a 9 or 10 percent increase to only a select few department heads.
“There are some department heads that have more responsibility than other department heads,” said Mayor Sam Craig in recommending the council keep to the recommendation as originally proposed.
In the final ordinance, all employees that were not mentioned above in the previous ordinances will receive a five percent raise in 2022.
Summary of proposed pay increases in 2022:
- 7 percent raise for Mayor and Clerk/Treasurer
- 12 percent increase for both police and fire chiefs
- New positions created in water/wastewater department. (Annual salary $49,961 for both positions)
- 10 percent raise for Mayor Assistant Debbie Andry
- 10 percent raise for City Attorney Greg Pittman
- 5 percent raise for all other city employees
Current Wage comparisons for Mayor and Clerk-Treasurer:
- Bedford Mayor – $69,155.84
- Lebanon Mayor – $88,068
- Huntington Mayor – $75,419.76
- Frankfort Mayor – $79,472
Clerk-Treasurer:
- Bedford – $59,772.18
- Lebanon – $79,138
- Huntington – $67,291.12
- Frankfort – $70,456
The mayor and clerk-treasurer have not requested raises in six years of previous administrations.
Bedford Fire Department Proposed Raises:
- Fire Chief – Current Salary $57,168.80 – New Salary $64,029.42 a 12 percent increase plus longevity pay
- Battalion Chief – Current Salary $53,949.48 – New Salary $60,751.60 an 8 percent increase plus $2,500
- Captain – Current Salary $51,374.70 – New Salary $58,484.92 an 8 percent increase plus $3,000
- Lieutenant – Current Salary $49,530 – New Salary $53,492.40 an 8 percent increase
- Senior Firefighter – Current Salary $48,168.84 – New salary $52,041 an 8 percent increase
- First Class Firefighter – Current Salary $48,288.28 – New Salary $51,071 an 8 percent increase
Bedford Police Department Proposed Raises:
- Police Chief – Current Salary $57,168.80 – New Salary $64,029.42 plus longevity pay, a 12 percent increase
- Assistant Chief – Current Salary $55,553.16 – New Salary $61,663.94 an 11 percent increase
- Major – Current Salary – $53,936.48 – New Salary $60,751.60 an 8 percent pay increase plus $2,500
- Captain – Current Salary $51,374.70 – New Salary $58,484.92 an 8 percent pay increase plus $3,000
- Sergeant – Current Salary $48,186.84 – New Salary $53,005.42 an 8 percent pay increase
- First Class Police Officer – Current Salary $47,288.28 – New Salary $51,071.28 an 8 percent pay increase
- Radio Dispatch Supervisor – Current Rate of Pay – $20.72 ($43,097) – New Rate of Pay $22.38 ($46,550)
Both the police and fire departments receive longevity pay in addition to their salary, this has been in effect for several years.
Police and fire personnel longevity pay is comprised of:
- 2-3 years – Clothing allowance $900
- 4th year – $61.61 bi-weekly pay – $1,601.86 yearly – Clothing allowance – $200 up to 20 years
- 5th year – $65.07 bi -weekly pay – $1,691.82 yearly
- 6th year – $68.53 bi-weekly pay – $1,781.78 yearly
- 7th year – $72,00 bi-weekly pay – $1,872.00 yearly
- 8th year – $75.46 bi-weekly pay – $1,961.96 yearly
- 9th year – $78.92 bi-weekly pay – $2,051.92 yearly
- 10th year – $82.38 bi-weekly pay – $2,141.88 yearly
- 11th year – $85.84 bi-weekly pay – $2,231,84 yearly
- 12th year – $89.30 bi-weekly pay – $2,321.80 yearly
- 13th year – $92.76 bi-weekly pay – $2,411.76 yearly
- 14th year – $96.23 bi-weekly pay – $2,501.98 yearly
- 15th year – $99.69 bi-weekly pay – $2,591.94 yearly
- 16th year – $103.15 bi-weekly pay – $2,681 yearly
- 17th year – $106.61 bi-weekly pay – $2,771.86 yearly
- 18th year – $110.07 bi-weekly pay – $2,861.82 yearly
- 19th year – $113.53 bi- weekly pay – $2,951.78 yearly
- 20th year – $117.00 bi-weekly pay – $3,042 yearly
Utilities Department
- Water/Wastewater Supervisor – New position – rate of pay $24.02 ($49,961)
- Distribution Supervisor – New position – rate of pay $24.02 ($49,961)
- Filtration Plant Superintendent – current rate of pay – $23.57 ($49,025) new rate of pay $25.46 ($52,956)
- Distribution System Superintendent – current rate of pay – $23.57 ($49,025) new rate of pay $25.46 ($52,956)
- Waste Water Plant Superintendent- current rate of pay- $23.57 ( $49,025) new rate of pay $25.46 ($52,956)
Department Heads
- Utilities Director – Current Salary – $57,168.80 – New salary $62,885.68 a 10 percent pay increase
- Director of Planning and Zoning – Current salary $56,168 – New salary $62,313.94 a 9 percent pay increase
- Director of Adminstrative Services – Current salary $57,168.80 – New salary $62,313.94 a 9 percent pay increase
- Street Commissioner – Current salary $57,168.80 – New Salary $61,742.20 an 8 percent pay increase
- Director of Parks and Recreation – Current salary $57,168.80 – New salary $61,742.20 an 8 percent pay increase
- Transportation Director – Current salary $57,168.80 – New Salary $60,598.98 a 6 percent pay increase
- Business and Community Development Director – Current Salary $57,168.80 – New Salary $60,698.98 a 6 percent pay increase
Administration
- Mayors Assistant – Current Salary $48,910.94 – New Salary $53,802.06 a 10 percent pay increase
- City Attorney – Current Salary $30,764 – New Salary $33,841 a 10 percent pay increase
At this time, the above proposals are merely recommendations. The city council is expected to vote on the raises and the proposed 2022 budget will be advertised on September 10, 2021. The final passage of the ordinance is to take place on October 18, 2021.
The recommendations originated from a special meeting held in August.
