Monday, July 15, 1996

Officers upset with city's salary increase

By ANTHONY WILSON
Staff Writer

Listening to Sgt. Roger Berry, about the only thing skinnier than Abilene's thin blue line is the police department's proposed 3 percent pay raise.

A 21-year crimefighting veteran, Berry, president of the Abilene Police Officers Association, is rapidly becoming a grizzled pro at arguing that city cops deserve salaries approaching their documented success in reducing gang warfare, murders and other violent crimes.

"It hurts morale," Berry explained. "The mayor and everyone tells you what a great job you're doing, but they don't want to pay us. We've got officers with pride in their job and their community. We're not here for the pay. But by golly, our families deserve more."

In what has seemingly become a summer ritual, City Hall's civil servants are disappointed and displeased by the city manager's recommended salary increase.

Last week, Lanny Lambert unveiled his proposed 1996-97 budget that includes a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for firefighters and police officers. Though the plan includes the potential for higher earnings, officers and firefighters are bristling over Lambert's 3 percent proposal.

"We're not pleased by any stretch of the imagination," said Guy Turner, president of the 140-member Abilene Firefighters Association. "We understand he's got a job to do to hold the line on taxes. We're realistic, but we feel we deserve above average pay for above average service. I don't know how good the economy has to get before it trickles down to us."

In 1993 and 1994, firefighters and officers convinced the City Council they were losing qualified personnel to other Texas cities offering higher pay. In each of those years, the council approved 6 percent pay raises trying to raise salaries to the state average.

The civil servants were again encouraged last year when Lambert, in his first year on the job, recommended another 6 percent raise. But the council approved only 4 percent, partly because city administrators had failed to prepare for an extra pay period that cost $1 million.

Berry and Turner both note that while strides were made in 1993-94, inching Abilene toward the state's average pay, the ground gained is being lost.

"We're losing good, quality officers," Berry complained. "There's no long-range vision. It's hard to have faith in the people who govern the city."

According to a city survey of seven comparably sized cities, Abilene lags behind in the salaries of its rank and file, with only San Angelo consistently faring worse.

Lambert, who halved Police Chief Melvin Martin's recommended 6 percent raise, is quick to defend his plan for providing the potential for extra earnings.

For instance, veteran officers who undergo extra training and earn a master's certification will be paid an extra $200 per month. Berry complimented the move as a "really great reward."

Lambert's plan also includes a savings incentive plan to reward city employees for cutting costs. If the council adopts the program, 25 percent of the savings will be returned to the workers as a cash bonus.

"This year's budget proposal is better for salaries than last year," Lambert said. "They have more potential to affect their earnings than in the past. This budget challenges employees to greater productivity. It's reasonable in this environment.

"It's not a bad budget," he added. "It's just put together differently."

Of his recommended 6 percent raise last year, Lambert said he "wasn't realistic." He expects the council will support 3 percent.

Mayor Gary McCaleb said councilmembers annually are challenged to fairly compensate employees.

"The reality is we may never pay everyone all they deserve to be paid," McCaleb said. "It's unfortunate we reduce the worth of people's jobs to what they're paid. It's impossible to quantify in dollars."

Turner and Berry said the members of their associations will decide whether to send them to lobby councilmembers for higher pay. Neither, however, held out hope the council's collective mind can be changed.

"Shoot," Turner said, "we'll take it, go on and hope for better next year."

Added Berry: "Dadgum it, we try not to throw a fuss, but then the city ignores us. They pay what they feel they just have to and that's all."