CITY TO CONSIDER PERFORMANCE BASED PAY

Lincolnton City Manager Jeff Emory (left) has suggested city council look into offering performance based pay to the 159 employee city workforce.

By Jon Mayhew

City manager Jeff Emory asked council members Sunday to
consider bringing back the practice of giving employees raises
based on their evaluations as opposed to raises based on
tenure.

The request came during the annual budget workshop.

“It’s something we haven’t offered in years because of the
benefits package,” said Emory, adding only the city manager
isn’t eligible to receive the benefit.

Currently, employees receive a 2.5 percent cost of living increase
each year. For every five years of service in the city, employees
also receive a salary increase.

“If we do this, then we would reduce the 2.5 percent cost of
living increase to probably 1.5 percent,” said Emory.

Emory came under fire in a recent series of factorials in The
Carolina Scoop for receiving a $6,439 raise as well as a one-time
bonus of $4,292 in December, as the city was heading into a
major recession.

The raise and bonus came after Emory asked city departments
to cut five percent from their budgets then got a glowing
“financial state of the city” report at the same meeting Emory
received his raise/bonus.

During the budget retreat, department heads asked Emory not
to cut benefits in place for city employees. One of the major
benefits is city-paid dependent health coverage.

“I’ve heard you all loud and clear,” said Emory during the budget
retreat.

Emory did not mention Christmas bonuses, which all city
employees including the city manager receive an extra two
weeks of pay in December.

“This is a move away from what our philosophy has been over
the years,” said Emory. “This year, it may be a better option to do
performance based pay raises and cost of living adjustments.”

Emory said the first year of performance-based pay increases,
he can see every employee getting a raise.

“Then, for the second year, the city would have more of a
procedure set in place,” said Emory.

Emory said over the years, the cost of living adjustments the city
has paid has been at an average of 2.5 percent.

“Some years, the percentage has been higher,” said Emory.
“Other years, the percentage has been lower. We’ve always kept
it at the average.”

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