Police Department Supervisor Wage CompressionCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 07.
Copyrighted
December 18, 2023
ITEM TITLE: Police Department Supervisor Wage Compression
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval to address the non -
bargaining sworn wage compression of Police Department supervisors
with a budget allocation of $80,482 from Fiscal Year 2024 savings to
provide 5% increase for Lieutenants, Captains, and the Assistant Chief,
and 6% increase for the Chief.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
THE CITY
DUOF
B TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Police Department Supervisor Wage Compression
DATE: December 13, 2023
Dubuque
All -America City
IN
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Chief of Police Jeremy Jensen is recommending a mid -year wage adjustment for non -
bargaining unit command staff at the Police Department.
Since FY 2011, non -bargaining sworn members of the Dubuque Police Department,
which includes Lieutenants, Captains, the Assistant Chief and Chief, have received no
annual wage increases twice (FY12 and FY16) when bargaining unit employees did
receive a wage increase and one wage increase (FY20) which was significantly less
than the wage increase given to bargaining sworn members. Additionally, in FY24, all
sworn members received a 6% wage increase, with the exception being the Chief, who
received a 5% wage increase.
The cumulative effect of this wage compression between sworn bargaining and sworn
non- bargaining has totaled a 4.75% loss for the non -bargaining sworn personnel and a
5.75% loss for the Chief since FY11.
The compression has caused a very minimal wage difference between top -step
Corporal and a new Lieutenant. The non -bargaining sworn personnel are all
supervisors. This requires additional duties and responsibilities. Additionally, non -
bargaining sworn personnel do not receive overtime. Upon accepting a promotion,
personnel also lose seniority as they go to the bottom of the seniority list for that rank.
This often means losing "good days off and good shifts".
Pay is not the only reason a person takes a promotion, but pay does need to be part of
that incentive. Additionally, to avoid compression in the future, all sworn non -bargaining
will need to receive the same wage increases awarded to sworn bargaining personnel.
The Police Department has thirteen (13) Lieutenants, seven Captains, one Assistant
Chief, and a Chief.
I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council approval to address the non -
bargaining sworn wage compression of Police Department supervisors with a budget
allocation of $80,482 from FY 2024 savings to provide 5% increase for Lieutenants,
Captains, and the Assistant Chief, and 6% increase for the Chief. Sufficient savings
exist within the current year Police budget to cover the expense in Fiscal Year 2024.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Shelley Stickfort, Chief Human Resources Officer
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
THE C
DUUB_-'&-_FE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
DATE: December 13, 2023
RE: Police Department Supervisor Wage Compression
Introduction
Dubuque
MI-Aneriea City
\N A K.I J:A A.1.
1I�II®r
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
This memo is to request a budget reallocation to address the Police Department
Supervisor wage compression in FY 2024.
Background
Since FY 2011, non -bargaining sworn members of the Dubuque Police Department, which
includes Lieutenants, Captains, the Assistant Chief and Chief, have received no annual
wage increases twice (FY12 and FY16) and one wage increase (FY20) which was
significantly less than the wage increase given to bargaining sworn members. Additionally,
in FY24, all sworn members received a 6% wage increase, with the exception being the
Chief, who received a 5% wage increase.
The cumulative effect of this wage compression between sworn bargaining and sworn non -
bargaining has totaled a 4.75% loss for the non -bargaining sworn personnel and a 5.75%
loss for the Chief since FY11.
Discussion
The compression has caused a very minimal wage difference between top -step Corporal
and a new Lieutenant. The non -bargaining sworn personnel are all supervisors. This
requires additional duties and responsibilities. Additionally, non -bargaining sworn
personnel do not receive overtime. Upon accepting a promotion, personnel also lose
seniority as they go to the bottom of the seniority list for that rank. This often means losing
"good days off and good shifts".
While pay should not be the only reason a person takes a promotion, pay does need to be
part of that incentive. Additionally, to avoid compression in the future, all sworn non -
bargaining will need to receive the same wage increases awarded to sworn bargaining
personnel.
Budget Impact
The Police Department as thirteen (13) Lieutenants, seven Captains, one Assistant Chief,
and a Chief.
You have indicated to me, that you would support a 5% increase for Lieutenants, Captains
and the Assistant Chief and 6% increase for the Chief. The start date of these increases
would be on the first pay in January 2024.
To address the above wage increases at the 5 and 6% rates, the total recurring cost in FY
2024 is $80,482.
In FY 2024, the Police Department has experienced a savings of $1,104,000 from vacant
positions in the Police Patrol activity. This uses the base number of being 12 officers down.
However, this number has climbed to 15 currently. The overtime budget will be exceeded
due to vacant positions. A projected saving of will remain at the end of FY 2024, sufficient
to cover these wage increases.
Recommendation
I respectfully request your approval to address the non -bargaining sworn compression of
Police Department supervisors with a budget allocation of $80,482 from FY 2024 savings.