City Commission Tables City Employee Pay Increase

bhcityhall-22
bhcityhall-22

A 3% pay increase for full-time, non-union staff has been put on hold by Benton Harbor City Commissioners. At Monday’s meeting, they tabled the pay increase in order to get more information on the budget impact it would have. City Manager Darwin Watson said it wouldn’t be much.

“As far as an impact, we’re talking roughly about $1,250 a month,” Watson said.

The meeting packet said the budget impact would be about $17,400 total per year. Commissioner Ron Singleton said he believes the staff do deserve the 3% raise, but he wants to get more into the next budget to be sure the money is all there. Commissioner Mary Alice Adams had similar thoughts.

“I’m asking for more time, and I would really like to get some questions answered by tabling this item,” Adams said.

Commissioners stressed they support a raise for staff. They just want more time to review. Watson noted the non-union staff haven’t had a pay increase since 2010 while the union staff, like police and fire personnel, have had raises. The matter will come up again at a future meeting.