During a recent city council meeting, the topic of employee compensation was brought to the forefront with a presentation by Matt Weatherly from Public Sector Personnel Consultants (PSPC). The firm conducted a comprehensive compensation study aimed at evaluating the pay structures of city employees in light of current market conditions.

Weatherly highlighted the competitive nature of the job market, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where cities are vying for skilled personnel. He noted that the turnover rate for public sector jobs has doubled since pre-COVID levels, emphasizing the challenges faced in recruiting and retaining employees in various roles, especially in public safety.

The study revealed that many positions within the city are currently underpaid compared to neighboring municipalities. For instance, police officers and firefighters are approximately 20% to 30% behind market averages in terms of entry-level and top-out salaries. Weatherly stressed the importance of aligning compensation with market standards to attract and retain talent, particularly in critical roles such as dispatchers and public safety personnel.

The findings indicated that Glen Heights is lagging behind its competitors, with many civilian positions also falling short of market rates. Weatherly proposed a multi-year strategy to gradually adjust pay scales, suggesting that an investment of approximately $1 million would be necessary to bring police and fire salaries to 90% of market average.

The council was urged to consider these recommendations as part of their upcoming budget planning, with Weatherly offering continued support from PSPC to assist in the implementation of these changes. The discussion underscored the pressing need for the city to address compensation disparities to ensure effective service delivery and employee satisfaction in a challenging labor market.