City human resources and budget staff presented a classification and compensation study to the Finance Committee on March 11 that proposes a new nonunion pay structure and targeted increases focused on the city’s lowest-paid roles. Director Gill and Deputy Director Ellen Schneider Collins said the consultant‑driven study and Municipal Compensation Advisory Board review recommended new bands designed to improve recruitment and retention and reduce pay inequities.

The administration asked the committee to recommend changes to the nonunion salary ordinance and to authorize retroactive application of the new scales to Jan. 1, 2025. Budget Director Mike Mastruboni told the committee the appropriation to fund the adjustment had been prepared for the forthcoming council appropriation process.

Committee members expressed support for raising pay at the bottom of the pay scale, but several councilors—citing outstanding questions about how particular titles were mapped into the new bands, the treatment of multi‑member body stipends and the process for elected‑official compensation—asked for more time. The city solicitor and the law department advised the committee on statutory timing and state ethics guidance, noting that elected‑official compensation raises legal and timing issues that the Municipal Compensation Advisory Board’s recommendation would help resolve.

The committee voted to keep the nonunion ordinance and related elected‑compensation work in committee and asked the administration to provide: (1) a clearer mapping of old titles to new classifications, (2) the methodology used by the classification consultant, (3) copies of department‑level feedback from division heads and (4) implementation details for retroactive pay and pension/benefit calculations.

Why it matters
The proposed plan would change base pay bands for many city employees and includes retroactive pay to Jan. 1, 2025. Committee members supported the overall equity goal but wanted more staff input, a clear audit trail and coordination with the Municipal Compensation Advisory Board before the council votes on ordinance changes.

Next steps requested by the committee
- Administration to supply an itemized mapping of prior titles to the proposed bands and the consultant methodology.
- Administration to present department‑level feedback and a plan for implementing retroactive payments and employer benefit contributions.
- City legal staff to return with clear options for ensuring the city complies with state ethics guidance if the council considers changes tied to elected official compensation.

Provenance: presentation by HR and budget staff; law department guidance; committee motion to keep in committee.