Sparta Aldermen To Consider Employee Pay Raises This Thursday

The Sparta Board of Aldermen will vote on a pay adjustment plan Thursday night that would impact 67 employees.

The plan would increase pay by $2.32 for employees in pay grades two through seven. Mayor Jerry Lowery said the city needs to take action after losing nine workers over the past year.

“I think it is something that we probably need to do,” Lowery said. “It’s not on the agenda, but I think we will bring up in new business Thursday night and get it implemented.”

City Administrator Brad Hennessee presented the proposal to the board in a Tuesday night work session. Hennessee said entry level positions would be brought up to $15 an hour. Hennnessee said the overall plan would cost the city about $323,000.

“$4,800 is a meaningful adjustment to anybody,” Hennessee said. “It doesn’t matter where you fall on the pay scale. That tells me as an employee that my employer cares about me. That is a big one.”

The proposal comes after a wage study found that Sparta employees were underpaid compared to surrounding counties and the private sector. Alderman Brent Young said “it is a step that we have to do. It is not a step that we need to do. It is a step we have to do to stay relevant.”

Hennessee said pay grades above seven would not receive the raise. Hennessee said those positions are usually management or department heads.