Monterey Proposes Employee Raises And Restructuring Pay Scale

Monterey town employees could receive a three percent raise under the proposed 21-22 budget.

Beyond that, the town finance committee said it wants to begin a more in depth study of the town’s pay scale. Chairman Nathan Walker said the committee would like to complete the new rates by the July Board of Aldermen meeting.

“Right now the system tops out after a year of service,” Walker said. “Looking down the road and being competitive with other towns and cities in the area, we have to make it attractive for our employees to stay for longevity and to be able to attract new talent.”

Walker said if passed, the adjusted pay scale will not be included in next year’s budget and would be implemented at the end of fiscal year 2022. As for the proposed balanced budget, it includes purchases of a new brush truck, a used ladder truck and creating a new Monterey tourism website.

“We’re looking good on projected revenues for the coming year, so we’re able to add some good things for our different department,” Walker said. “Our main thing is our tourism initiative. So, we are adding a little expenditure there to try and get the marketing and tourism brand up.”

The finance committee approved adding $7,500 to the Cultural Development Fund Tuesday for Stone Creative to do the website work. Walker said more spending for the brand of Monterey is something to explore in 2022.

“I think next year we would probably want to look at that,” Walker said. “But for this year since we are just getting started, we’re really not going to know what is going to hit and what isn’t going to hit. (…) But, I think over the course of the next year as we look at revenues and look at ways to even create new revenue to support that cause.”

The town is expecting an increase in revenues with the general fund budgeted at $1,960,165.  The budget will have its first reading for approval at Monday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.