Posted by Speaking Out on February 7, 2011, 7:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Pontoon Beach..."
If we were in a thriving economy I would have a far different attitude. But, we are not. We are in an economy where people are lucky just to have a job. I too, have to pay health care insurance costs. Luckily my husbands company pays a portion of the cost, but we still pay around $200.00 per month, our part.
We too have to save for our retirement. There is no pension plan afforded to us where my husband works. We plan for and designed our own pension plan.
Nobody likes to sacrifice or give up little pleasures in life, but in the world we live in today unless you are wealthy, there is no choice in the matter.
What would most of us want....a steady job that you know will be there for several years, or take a chance by demanding pay raises and unrealistic benefits that may bankrupt or shut down your place of employment all together?
The village is no different. What were they thinking? Where did they think this money was going to come from?
Pontoon Beach resident questions pay raises By Michael Heil | Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2009 12:00 am
Mayor Jim Denham and Pontoon Beach Village Board trustees Russ Saltsgaver and Mike Pagano spent about 30 minutes supporting Police Department pay raises that resident Wesley Temple questioned at Tuesday's board meeting.
Police officers will receive 3.5 percent raises over the next three years through a contract negotiated last year between the village and the Police Benevolent Protection Association.
The raises will increase officers' pay by about 85 cents an hour over the three-year period at an overall cost to the city at about $100,000 due to additional 32 cent raises per hour per year for years of service, Village Comptroller Scott Oney said Thursday.
Also, officers promoted will receive a dollar raise per hour as part of the contract agreement.
The first raise went into effect Jan. 1. The others will go into effect Jan. 1 2010, and Jan. 1, 2011. The contract ends Dec. 31, 2011.
"The raises were budgeted," Oney said.
Saltsgaver, who negotiates contracts for United Steelworkers 1899, didn't mince words Tuesday.
"To tell our officers they don't deserve a raise is unacceptable," Saltsgaver told Temple. "They were less than the cost of living for last year."
"It wasn't a huge raise. I believe they deserved more," Denham said.
Temple told the board that he did not think the raises were appropriate at this time because of the downturn in the economy and the board should have considered a wage freeze.
"It's a tough time, and it's our taxpayers' dollars," Temple said. "I believe there are other people in this community that feel the same way I do."
Police Chief Charles Luehmann did not voice his opinion at the meeting.
During an interview Thursday from his office, however, Luehmann defended the raises and somewhat lashed out at Temple.
"I do take it personal when someone comes after my men and staff because I'm protective of the department. I take it as an insult to them," Luehmann said. "The Police Department isn't asking for anything more than other departments ask for."
The hourly base rate for a Pontoon Beach police officer is now $21.55 due to the 3.5 percent raise. That figure does not include the raises for years of service. The Glen Carbon Police Department's hourly rate is $23.13 and the Maryville Police Department $21.63.
"(As you can see), our pay is competitive with other departments," Luehmann said.
Luehmann became police chief in 2005. Since then, he said he has lost two officers to the Granite City Police Department because of better pay.
Luehmann does not want to see that trend continue due to the time involved in sending officers to the police academy and the costs incurred with hiring new officers.
"I don't want them moving on for more money after we've trained them. It's always a concern because when they leave, we have to start the lengthy training process all over again," he said.
Luehmann said his officers are worth more than the 3.5 percent raise.
"I wish I could have gotten them more," he said.....really?