By Joseph Slacian
jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH, Ind. – The first reading of the 2018 salary ordinance was approved 5-0 on Monday, Oct. 23, by the Wabash City Council.
Under the measure, most city employees will receive a 2 percent pay increase next year.
Not included in the 2 percent figure is Mayor Scott Long, who will receive a 6 percent raise, his first since taking over as mayor in 2016. Long will receive $68,617 next year, under the spending plan.
In addition, Code Enforcement Officer Kipp Cantrell will receive more than 2 percent. He is slated to receive $38,000, up $3,000 from last year. If he completes various certification courses this year, that amount could increase again in 2019.
While the ordinance was approved on Monday, Council members set the figures when they had a budget hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
During that meeting, a proposed increase for Long of 5 percent was increased to 6 percent.
Long, who during the 2015 campaign insisted he would not take a pay raise, told The Paper of Wabash County after the meeting, “As we look at the salaries, if I continue to reject an increase, the department head salaries are creeping up on the mayor salary. After discussions with several council members, they encouraged me to accept the raise.”
Among those receiving the 2 percent raises are the City Council members.
Their pay will increase to $6,793 per Council member, with the Council president receiving an additional $1,500.
Council members debated the increase; with Council member Mitch Figert contending that the increase was a cost of living increase and should be applied to everyone, including the Council.
Council member Doug Adams argued against the Council increase, saying, “It’s a hell of a salary for what’s done.”
Before voting on the measure Monday, Figert commended city officials for keeping the municipality fiscally sound, enabling it to grant the increases.
“When other companies and organizations are having to make cuts, we’re fiscally sound and are able to do the pay increases, the 2 percent pay increase and make sure our workers are compensated for the hard work the mayor makes them do.”
The total salary ordinance is $4.3 million. Second reading on the matter will take place at the Council’s Nov. 13 meeting.