Sparta Increases Pay For Some Employees

Some Sparta employees will be receiving raises after a payroll study conducted by the city

Sparta Mayor Jeff Young said office and electric line workers were being underpaid compared to the regional average.

“We had an in-house payroll study and we found that we had six or seven positions that were actually deficient in their pay,” Young said. “So, we made adjustments to make them more competitive.”

Young said the $2 dollar raise should go into effect in the next three weeks. Young said the strong financial backing of the city allowed the raises to pass comfortable during Thursday’s Board of Alderman meeting.

“Our budget is in good shape,” Young said. “Each department their revenue source comes from a different place. It comes from rates or the general fund, which is property tax.”

The city conducts payroll studies about every three years. Sparta passed a $5.4 million budget in June with no property tax increases.