HUNTINGTON BEACH : City OKs 11% Pay Hike for 41 on Staff

The City Council this week approved an 11% raise over two years for 41 municipal employees.

The workers, chiefly management employees, were considered collectively because none is represented by an employees union. Each of the employees will receive a 5% raise next month and another 6% pay increase in December, 1992.

When the initial pay hikes are awarded on Dec. 21, the new salary schedule will range from $26,376 to $32,700 for personnel assistants up to $90,900 to $112,596 for the assistant city administrator.

The pay raises are similar to those the council has given this year to all union-represented workers, except firefighters, who are involved in a contract dispute with the city.

Noting the city’s worsening budget crisis amid the national recession, a local citizens group, Huntington Beach Tomorrow, denounced the raises.

“The only acceptable salary increase in these difficult times is zero percent,” said Dave Sullivan, the group’s president. “That these raises are being recommended during this recession is not only inappropriate and unrealistic, but also an insult to the taxpayers of Huntington Beach.”