By Marcus McClain
NEA Town Courier
The Blytheville police and fire committee continued to deliberate over the proposed pay scale adjustments for the police department in their May 10 meeting.
Police chief Ross Thompson introduced the changes in last month’s meeting that would increase officers paid according to rank, years of experience and certifications. At the base level, the raises would lift officers to a minimum of $20/hour, sergeants to a minimum of $22/hour, lieutenants to a minimum of $25/hour and captains to a minimum of $27.50/hour.
Thompson’s reasoning for the increase has been framed around the wages of competing departments. Recently, the West Memphis Police Department approved raises for officers, and governor Asa Hutchinson signed House Bill 1026 lifting state troopers’ salary by over $11,000.
The proposed pay scale would lower the amount of officers budgeted to 35, opposed to the current amount 39. The unfilled position in the department would account for the raises in addition to the public safety tax. The total yearly increase to the budget would be $14,490.
Council members were split in their support of the raises at this time.
“I’m in favor of the increase but not right now,” councilman John Mayberry said. “I’m for everybody getting a raise, but we just had our budget. Everything was great, and then all of a sudden, we keep increasing and increasing. I’m not in favor [right now].”
Councilman R.L Jones also showed hesitation for the budget changes at this time. He went on to mention
“We don’t have a plan for all city employees to give them a raise,” Jones said. “I’m on the city council to talk for all the people that work for the city.” He later added, “We have to be mindful that we’re dealing with a whole city.”
Committee chair Barbara McAdoo-Brothers voiced her concern that council members are personalizing the matter. She also noted the potential of officers leaving to join the steel mills if wages remain at their current level.
“I think some of our council people are looking at this as a raise for people. This is a pay scale for the positions,” McAdoo-Brothers said. “You don’t punish our officers and police department because of the dislike of who’s in the position. I’m begging that we give the pay raises so we can keep the department intact.”
Echoing Brother’s statements and his previous points, Thompson added, “The state police are going to be starting out at $54,000/ year. We have several officers right now that would be great troopers, but they are still staying and serving the city of Blytheville. The talk about not giving them raises tonight may be all it takes to make them sign up for the state police, the West Memphis police, Osceola who still pays more than us or the sheriff’s department.”
Councilman John Musgraves later seconded Brother’s motion to send the proposal to the finance committee, citing police raises as a key factor for the public safety tax. There, the committee requested finance director John Callens to analyze the figures. He noted the possibility of a special council meeting at the council’s request, but the issue could be re-addressed at next month’s committee meeting.
“This to me is a situation based on whether or not you all believe it is necessary,” Callens said. The money, I believe, is there and it’s in a fund nobody else can use other than police and fire. The budget is a fluid thing. It’s up to us when we deem necessary to make a change.”