FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

Should City Manager's Raise Have Waited?

Everyone knows that economically, times are tough. That's not news, as the recession probably really got underway a couple of months before Christmas 2008.

At the December meeting of the Lincolnton City Council, council members were split on whether or not to give city manager Jeff Emory a raise.

Councilmen Fred Houser and Carroll Heavner voted "no." Councilmen Les Cloninger and Larry Mac Hovis, meantime, voted "yes." Left to break the tie was Mayor David Black, who voted "yes."

As a result of the 3-2 vote, Emory received a six percent raise -- totaling $6,439 -- and a one-time four percent bonus based on his prior salary, totaling $4,292.

Mayor David Black said Monday the City could afford to give Emory a raise, especially since Emory has called for every city department to cut back their budget around two percent for the remainder of the fiscal year.

"I asked the department heads to make cuts where they could," said Emory in a recent interview.

With the cuts made -- Black said Emory has the ability to "run good numbers like that" -- the door was opened for Emory's raise.

Was there a possibility Emory was entertaining thoughts of going somewhere else to work?

"We didn't want to take a chance at losing Emory," said Black. "I don't know if he's entertaining other offers but we didn't want to take that chance."

After the raise and bonus, the rumor mill started flying as to why Emory was getting a raise. The biggest rumor: Emory's daughter was graduating from Appalachian State University and wanted to get a car.

"That's 100 percent not true," said Mayor Black.

The answer to the question "why during a recession ?" was simply "it's contractual," a fact confirmed by Emory himself.

"Every year, I have a contract with the city council for a performance review and a possible salary adjustment every November or December," said Emory.

I find it hard to believe the City Council couldn't delay a vote until the economy improves.

"I hate that the raise had to come at this time," said Black.

Many of the employees across every city department are angry that Emory got his raise and they haven't received a raise.

Several employees, in fact, have compared Emory and the City of Lincolnton to a "big bank" CEO getting his bonuses before receiving the government bail-out money.

The Carolina Scoop obtained documentation from David Black regarding his research.

Emory received an increase almost every year his first eight years as Lincolnton's city manager. He received increases in February 98, January 99, January 2000, December 2000 (different fiscal year), January 2003, January 2004, December 2004 (different fiscal year), and December 2005.

Emory did not receive a performance increase for years 2002, 2006 and 2007.

In a memo dated Dec. 1, 2008, Mayor Black outlined the case for giving Emory a 7.5 percent raise and a 5 percent one-time bonus.

"Jeff didn't ask for the raise," said Black. "I knew his evaluation was coming up, so I started doing my homework."

Part of Black's research was to look at a survey of city manager salaries for years 2004 through 2007 for municipalities with the same average population as Lincolnton. Average increases were 16 percent.

With Emory's latest increase, he's received performance increases totaling an average of 2.42 percent since 1998.

What about the employees that work for Emory?

It's a different kettle of fish, as they say, for the guys who pick up the trash in the city; keep our lights burning; protect us from crime and protect our life and property.

According to Black, when employees get promoted, they receive salary increases. The only other increases employees receive is a cost of living increase. On average, Black said the increase from 2004-2008 was 4.27 percent.

"We did an employee survey a few years ago to see if employees wanted merit increases or dependent health coverage," said Black. "The decision was almost unanimous; they wanted (the city to pay for) dependent healthcare."

It just so happens Jeff Emory also has dependent healthcare, a point made during the interview with David Black. It's also common knowledge that the cost of insurance is through the roof.

My question again was "what about the city employees?"

Black said the City is attempting to do a pay study internally, which would save taxpayers $40,000.

Last week, Emory was quoted as saying come budget time, which starts this Friday at the Council Chambers at Lincolnton City Hall, fees may have to be raised (water and sewer), taxes may have to be raised and services may have to be cut.

Black said cutting personnel and/or services and raising taxes have not been discussed.

"The raising fees is a different story, especially regarding water/sewer," said Black. "With a shortfall in the water and sewer fund, I can't see that we can't get by without raising fees."

Great. Not only do you and I -- the taxpayers within the Lincolnton City limits -- have to pay for Emory's raise, we may have to pay more in water/sewer.

With his raise, Emory now makes more money as city manager than about 16 out of the 26 city managers' salaries surveyed by Black. The study Black conducted was from 2004 to 2007.

Black reiterated a couple of times that he plans on studying city department's pay structures. Knowing David Black for as long as I have, I think he's sincere.

The city employees also hope the Mayor is sincere as well. The editorial board of The Carolina Scoop believes without a complete city pay study, there may be problems at election time for Hovis, Cloninger and Black.

In other words, the raise and bonus should have waited until the economy turns around. We're not saying that Emory doesn't deserve a raise, we feel the timing was bad and a slap in the face for the hard-working, dedicated city employees.