Sworn police officers with the Plymouth Police Department will see a pay-raise before the end on the year, but maybe not as quickly as some of them were expecting.
A committee appointed by Mayor Senter looked at various aspects of the Police Department after doing the same for the Fire Department. Their recommendation was to implement a raise effective July 1st.
At the last city meeting council member Jeff Houin was not agreeable to implementing a pay raise mid-year since there was no emergency. He was supportive of the increase but felt since the city was in the midst of a salary survey and so close to the 2018 budget process that the increase could be set to take affect the first of next year.
Following a short discussion and the request of Clerk Treasurer Jeannine Xaver, the increase approved was set to begin on August 1st. The clerk requested the slight delay to allow her time to certify the salaries with the Indiana Public Retirement System. When doing the same for the fire department it took two additional weeks to complete.
Xaver also asked how they plan to offset the new expenses with additional income.
Councilmen and committee person Don Ecker said, “We’ve had some conversations and some of the current fee schedules are awful low and have been in place for years and years, possibly 10 to 12 years.” He continued, “I don’t think we are keeping pace with the rate of inflation or the cost associated with it. It’s my preference we talk about setting fees for 2018.” He did suggest a comparison with communities of similar population and sizes.
The resolution for the additional appropriation of $10,000 for the police pension fund and $80,000 for the sworn officers pay raise was approved by all present.
