The City Council of Webster City approved pay raises averaging 4% for city employees at its regularly-scheduled meeting Monday at City Hall.
Webster City Police staff will receive two 4% increases for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Both police and firefighters are represented by unions, and, accordingly, their pay and benefits are subject to collective bargaining.
The remainder of city staff are not union members.
The city’s 2024-25 pay plan, presented at the meeting by Beth Chelesvig, administrative services director, proposes an increase in pay for every employee of the City.
Police, who are members of the Iowa State Policeman’s Association local of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 61, will receive a 4% increase on July 1, 2024, and another 4% boost January 1, 2025. A separate provision allows police sergeants a further increase of $1.75/hour effective July 1, 2024, based on their additional duties and responsibilities, and typically, senior standing in the department.
The Webster City police department begins a new three-year contract July 1, 2024, which runs through June 30, 2027.
Local firefighters, members of the Iowa Professional Fire Fighters Local No. 1940, will get a 4% boost in their basic wage rates.
Non-bargaining (ie. non-union) employees are in line for 4% raises in base wages, with “additional adjustments as needed.” A survey, used in making the pay rise recommendations, shows 4 to 8% increases for non-bargaining city employees are common in similarly-sized cities elsewhere. This is the second year in a row non-bargaining city staff have gotten a 4% increase in wages.
The approved fiscal year 2024-25 benefits plan for city employees is essentially unchanged from that of last year. The plan is provided through the Iowa Governmental Health Care Plan, a pool of Iowa cities, counties, and a few school systems. Underlying insurance is provided by a Wellmark in Des Moines. Coverage includes health, dental, vision and life insurance for all city employees.
There is a 12.41% increase in premiums for this year. Deductibles remain at $750 individual and $1,500 family, with out-of-pocket maximums of $1,500 for individuals and $3,000 for families.
The Council memorandum concerning the benefits plan notes; “being part of this group has been beneficial for the City of Webster City — controlling health care costs and providing quality benefits to employees.”
The increased benefits costs have been anticipated, and are all covered in the 2024-25 approved city budget.
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: May 21, 2024