Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 24 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
City puts hold on step pay raises
Published Thursday, July 2, 2009
NATCHEZ — When the Natchez Board of Aldermen tabled a decision on step pay raises at its last meeting, the board stopped a scheduled raise one firefighter was expecting.
A city dispatcher’s raise was also stopped.
In 1996, the board enacted the step-pay program, which allows public safety officials to be eligible for raises in correlation with their years of service.
But now with city officials looking through the budget for ways to make cuts, the step program has been an area of savings consideration.
Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis suggested freezing the step program for an undetermined amount of time during the city’s last work session in June.
City Clerk Donnie Holloway said the entire payroll report on the docket was tabled for further discussion, not just the step program items.
Mayor Jake Middleton said a freeze has not officially been put in place across the board.
If the board does vote to freeze the program, Holloway said it will not be retroactive.
Yet the two public safety officials have not yet received their pay increase.
The board of aldermen will meet today for another work session about the budget.
Aldermen Mark Fortenbery, Ernest “Tony” Fields, Bob Pollard, and James “Ricky” Gray have all said they do not support the freezing of the step program, which Middleton said will come up for discussion today.
“I feel sure that will probably be one of the options that is brought up,” Middleton said. “Nothing is concrete.”
Fortenbery, Fields and Gray said there are other areas in the budget that can be cut first before turning to public safety departments.
“We need to find every account that this city has, and we need to put all the money on the table,” Gray said.
Alderman Dan Dillard said he had no comment prior to today’s meeting.
“There are certain dynamics about a live discussion that help formulate positions,” he said.
Mathis could not be reached for comment.
Holloway said freezing the program would save $41,600 annually.
The board cannot make official decisions during a work session, and any vote would have to be cast during the next regularly scheduled meeting at 11 a.m. July 14.
Fields said he is not sure whether the step increases for the two public safety officials will be brought up again and approved.
“I sure hope so,” he said.
With some of the lowest salaries in the state, both Natchez Fire Chief Oliver Stewart and Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said they hope the aldermen do not enact a freeze.
Both chiefs have also said their staff is fearful of the freeze.
“It’s one of the only things,” they have, Stewart said of his firefighters. “It’s a really good incentive for a lot of them.
“The majority of them do have second jobs.”
Several options for saving money, such as privatizing grass cutting in the recreation department and increasing the amount of money city employees pay toward their insurance each month, have also been considered as means to save money.
Patricia Gibson, the personnel director, recently resigned from her position and city officials are considering keeping it open to save money.
Comments
Posted by Sarge (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats just a damned shame that the city of Natchez can't afford to give very deserving Police officers and Firefighters the raises they were promised! If anyone deserves that raise,,,,,they certainly do!
This infuriates me because even though Natchez has been in dire straits for many months,,,,,It sure didn't stop the Aldermen from asking for and getting their raises awhile back now did it???
How can they afford raises for Aldermen and not for first responders?
Ya'lls priorities are all screwed up! Thats just wrong on so many levels!
Posted by goodmommy (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why stop the raises. They are already the lowest paid in the state. This is ridiculous!
Posted by Omega (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the BOA would get their pay back in line with the rest of the state the city could save about $60,000.00/yr.
Posted by gunther57 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 3:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if your asking for the board to cut there pay, they will never do that. the sad thing is the raise they got was against the law. we the people of natchez are the ones that vote on the aldermen raises, but go figure no one caught it. when it did come out they swep it under the table. if it was up to me NPD and NFD would make around 27k-30k starting out, and the board would make 10k and that is it. i think 10k is good for only 40hrs a yr of work.
Posted by abc747 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 5:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The BOA should be ashamed! How do they sleep at night? Giving themselves an undeserved raise while withholding well-earned raises from our firemen and police. It's a disgrace. In future elections, I won't be voting for any incumbents - local, state or federal.
Posted by beavis (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gunther57 - if it is true that the raise was against the law, why don't we ask he State Attorney General to investigate? The first responders should be first in line for a raise - not someone who sits in an air conditioned room vetoing anything positive for the citizens.
Posted by Hambone (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should someone get a raise just for coming to work for a year? The raises should be performance based.
Posted by Iamjustsaying (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The citizens of Natchez knows what to do when election time comes up again, and stop voting for a person just because you know them or their family member. You need someone with qualifications and who can get the job done and not line their pockets and let the hard working man continue to suffer. How can they sleep at night?
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Look at these comments! Everything negative. Mr. Mayor and the Board of Aldermen....look at these comments! Your constituents are angry and because you'd save more a year by cutting your illegal raises than by laying off deserving first responders. You've just hit the lowest point in your terms. You all will be lucky if the people don't storm city hall...... BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE THERE, FOR YOU'RE ONLY THERE ONE DAY A MONTH! I'm no longer a Natchezian but this makes me angry. Natchez officials-----you are one screwed-up mess!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in favor of a protest if these raises are stopped. After all, what is $42M in the city's budget - that is a drop in the bucket and these people have earned their pay increases. So, if they stop this who is in favor of a rally? Stop the travel expense or least up to $42M worth. Protect these employees and support a pay increase which is deserved. Another suggestion, cut the salaries of those making anywhere between $75 and 100M -- I don't have a clue what any of the salaries are .... but.....
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lambchop, I feel a protest would work if enough people rallied together at city hall. Are there enough people in the city who would actually take time to stand up to the Powers That Be?
KROGERS.....WHERE ARE YOU??????
Posted by firmfoundation (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't wait to see how our BOA and mayor respond to the needs of our public when we have an emergency like pandemic influenza, and there are no trained first responders left to deal with it. ( and we ARE in a declared pandemic!) We're already losing good police officers and firefighters to other agencies because our pay scale is on rock bottom already. I thought the $500,000 loan was supposed to cover the payroll. It's already been spent on junk---like a child who finds the cookies in the cabinet when mamma's not around. Wake up, people!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Support your NPD and NFD!
Posted by sdaafrye (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The board of alderman's next meeting (not workshop) is scheduled for July 7 at 9:00 a.m. It was moved from the 14th to the 7th to accommodate for a conference that some of the board or mayor are scheduled to attend. Everyone is invited to attend to show your support for Natchez's first responders.
Posted by sdaafrye (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry the meeting is at 11:00 not 9:00.
Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The rich get rich and the poor get poorer classic Natchez!
Posted by sandman (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what would happen if all the firefighters and police officers called in sick to protest? I think its called "The Blue Flu"
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys have elected some real winners for office down there in Natchez!
Posted by getreal (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it was not voted on then once again they are breaking the law by withholding these raises. no matter when or where they discuss this it still must be voted on in an open meeting.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can anyone tell me if the NPD Employees and the NFD Employees are under a State of Mississippi Municipal Civil Service?
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't worry about the raises because soon cuts will have to be made in personnel. The bubba leadership politicians from the past 30 years or so has sunk the ship. If the raises the BOA gave themselves is truly illegal then whomever has the facts needs to contact the proper state office and report it. Next election please look beyond skin tone and high school friendships. Hell I might even run.
Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on July 2, 2009 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
PAY THESE DESERVING PEOPLE THEIR RAISES!
PAY FOR THEIR RAISES BY LIQUIDATING SOME OF THE LAZY DO NOTHING PEOPLE IN THE CITY MAINTENANCE CREW! DOES IT REALLY TAKE TWO ADULT MEN TO PAINT A FIRE HYDRANT??? IS THIS TYPICAL GOVERNMENT? EMPLOYEES IN THAT DEPARTMENT NEED TO KNOW THEIR JOBS AREN'T PERMANENT AND CAN END BASED ON PERFORMANCE AND PUBLIC CALL INS. EACH TRUCK IN THAT DEPARTMENT SHOULD HAVE A PROMINENT NUMBER AND PHONE NUMBER SO WE CAN CALL THE CITY AND REPORT THINGS LIKE THIS, AND ALSO CALL THE DEMOCRAT!!
Posted by Avenue (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 4:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to know who gets city cars to take home and why do they need to take them home overnight. A list should be available with this information. If they have a need for a city-owned car during their working hours I do not oppose that. It is taking it home overnight that I have a problem with. Does anyone know how it is decided who gets a car to take home?
Posted by whatthehell47 (anonymous) on July 3, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
eawprops
those were firemen painting the hydrants
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)