FY2026 Police Supervisor Wage CompressionCopyrighted
August 4, 2025
City of Dubuque
City Council
ACTION ITEMS # 2.
ITEM TITLE: FY2026 Police Supervisor Wage Compression
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending a pay increase for non -
bargaining Police Command Staff to avoid wage compression
between bargaining unit positions and non -bargaining
Command Staff.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. Staff Memo
Page 1199 of 1311
THE CITY OF
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: FY2026 Police Supervisor Wage Compression
DATE: July 31, 2025
Dubuque
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As City Council has approved in the past to avoid wage compression between
bargaining unit positions and non -bargaining Command Staff, Chief of Police Jeremy
Jensen is recommending a pay increase for non -bargaining Command Staff.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Page 1200 of 1311
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
DATE: July 31, 2025
RE: FY2026 Police Supervisor Wage Compression
Introduction
This memo is to inform you of a possible Police Supervisor Wage Compression in FY26.
Background
The FY26 Wage Plan was recently released. The wage plan reflects a separate plan
specifically for Police Supervisors. This was created in FY25 to compensate for the wage
compression happening between top step Corporal and bottom step Lieutenant. The
scale per discussions with the City Council was to follow the Dubuque Police Protective
Association (DPPA) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current CBA is set to
run from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027 for wages. The wage increases are based
upon a progressive scale with the top step receiving the biggest percentage of increase.
Discussion
According to the current wage plan, the Police Supervisors, which consists of the ranks of
Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief and Chief, were given the 3% cost of living raise. This
was given to all non -bargaining personnel in the City. However, the top step Corporal of
the collective bargaining received a 7.24% raise. The difference is a 4.24% compression,
which essentially negates the initial raise given in FY24 to offset the compression (see
attached). In FY25, the Police Supervisors did receive the raise that aligned with the
collective bargaining agreement.
Additionally, this compression affects the Assistant City Manager and the Fire Chief, due to
comp and class parity.
Budget Impact
The Police Department has thirteen (13) Lieutenants, seven Captains, one Assistant Chief,
and a Police Chief. Accounting for longevity for each person and the 5% education bonus
for those affected, the total budget impact of a 7.24% increase (pending budget review) is
Page 1201 of 1311
approximately $174,963.19 for the entirety of FY26. This figure does reflect the applicable
wage increase for the Assistant City Manager and Fire Chief who are also tied to the wage
of the Police Chief. This figure was checked and validated by Chief Financial Officer
Jenny Larson. Funds are available in FY2026 due to Police Officer vacancies.
Recommendation
Correct the wage scale to reflect the 7.24% increase, then retroactively pay the ranks of
Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, Police Chief, Fire Chief and Assistant City Manager,
to July 1, 2025, which stays in line with the collective bargaining agreement.
2
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