Burbank : City Employees Will Get 3.3% Pay Raise

The Burbank City Council has voted 3.3% pay raises for city employees, who last year gave up raises to save jobs.

Management Services Director John K. Nicoll told the City Council Tuesday before their 5-0 vote to approve the raises that they still fall short of the cost of living increase of 6.1% in the past two years.

The increase will cost the city $1.5 million for 1,200 employees, and an additional $719,000 in extra benefits as part of the compensation package approved by the council.

Last year, the city balanced its 1992-93 budget without making any layoffs with the salary freeze, retirements and leaving positions unfilled.

“We came to some tough choices, but it was more of a humane process,” Councilman Bob Bowne said.

“We were able to downsize with dignity,” Bowne said. “We’ve been fair to the employees and they’ve been fair to us.”

With the pay freeze and other streamlining efforts, the city was able to meet a $6-million shortfall caused by state budget troubles last year.

The city had cut 42 positions, either leaving them unfilled or moving the employees to other jobs. Ten vacancies were created by retirements, city officials said.

The pay raises will not require tax increases or spending cuts.

Councilman Bill Wiggins, owner of Automation Plating, a Glendale metal-plating company, said that although he was not on the council last year when the tough decisions had to be made, the scenario reminded him of a situation a couple of years ago when his business was off by 30%. Employees and management worked together to save the company.

“I want to commend all the city employees,” Wiggins said.