OJAI : Council OKs Raise for 24 Employees

The Ojai City Council unanimously approved a 10% pay hike Tuesday for city employees, a move designed to halt what was described as high turnover.

The average annual salary of 24 full-time Ojai city workers will rise from $28,324 to $31,487 as of May 1.

The raises are long overdue, said Mayor Nina Shelley. While there are many advantages to living or working in the Ojai Valley, “that doesn’t pay the rent,” Shelley said.

Acting on the results of the city’s first salary study in a decade, the council agreed with its findings that 11 of the employees have the lowest salaries among 11 other cities studied similar to Ojai in size or service level.

Planning Director William Prince will see his salary rise from $47,532 to $51,912, which will still be under the survey median of $54,564.

Public Works Director Stan Moore, whose current salary is $51,192, will receive $54,504 next year, or above the survey median of $51,192.

City Manager Andy Belknap, who recently received a separate raise, told the council that the city can afford the $11,566 needed to cover the raises through June, since 1989-90 revenues have exceeded expectations. The $69,400 in additional salary outlay for next year will be included in the upcoming budget, he said.