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• CONSENT ITEM: F4 (continued) 5. Financial Resources - We included a 2% salary increase for Heather in our 2003 budget. Anything over that amount would come from our contingency budget, which is currently $13,850. With no anticipated retirements this year, tuition reimbursement is the only expected use of that line item. This will be well under the amount we have budgeted. 6. Economic Climate -With state budget cuts to cities and debates about wage freezes, this is a difficult time to recommend substantial pay increases. On the other hand, this is not the time to be "penny wise and pound foolish." We are currently not competitive with surrounding cities in our compensation packages. The cost of replacing our City Administrator because we failed to offer reasonable compensation would be far greater than the cost of slightly increasing her salary. There is still the possibility that the legislature would enact a future wage freeze so it is important that we do not allow the gap between what we pay and what neighboring cities pay to become even greater. The current "climate" does, however, limit the increase I am recommending to less than I would otherwise have proposed. Based upon these factors and input from Heather, I am making the following recommendations: 1. Heather's annual salary should be increased to $55,687 effective April 16, 2003. This is a 4% increase of $2142 in annual salary. This is $1071 more than the 2% we originally • budgeted and the difference could come from the contingency line item. Additional FICA will be $164 and PERA will be $118 annually based upon a 4% increase. 2. Heather currently receives no car allowance and does not submit requests for reimbursement for mileage unless it is away from the metro area. She does, however, attend many meetings on our behalf and uses her personal vehicle to get there. Heather should start receiving $35 per month as a small car allowance. Professional development and training opportunities are very important in Heather's position. She would like to join the International City/County Managers Association and has requested that the city pay her dues, which are based on a percentage of her salary. Estimated annual cost is $450. At her own expense she traveled to Sweden last year to participate in a city exchange program sponsored by the MCMA/ICMA. 4. Heather is on call for the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Heather has requested that we add this statement to her employment contract with the city. • ACTION REQUESTED: • Approval of City Administrator compensation increase si