Alexandria is looking at increasing pay scales within its public works department to keep up with the rest of the region.
The first reading of an ordinance at the city’s regularly scheduled Oct. 5 meeting, if passed, would redefine the pay range for the outlined positions.
“What we found was that our top end of the scales was actually pretty robust, but what needed to shore up was the bottom part of the scale, and that’s what we’ve changed,” Alexandria City Administrator David Plummer said.
To come up with the new amounts, Plummer said they looked at every city’s pay scale in Northern Kentucky and averaged them.
Those positions include:
Superintendent: the proposed annual salary for the entry-level is changing from $45,000 to $50,000 annually, with a maximum yearly wage of $99,000.
Foreman: the proposed annual salary for the entry-level is changing from $42,000 to $45,000 annually, with a maximum yearly wage of $80,000.
Mechanic: the proposed annual salary for the entry-level is changing from $37,000 to $42,000 annually, with a maximum yearly wage of $80,000.
Laborer: the proposed annual salary for the entry-level is changing from $30,000 to $42,000 annually, with a maximum yearly wage of $65,000.
This pay scale change is similar to what the city passed in April for its police department.
Plummer said this change reflects what the city’s current principles are. He said the new hires they just brought on board started at $42,000 a year, and the ordinance aligns with what they’re already practicing. He said no one in the department currently makes less than $42,000 a year.
