North Pole council advances 3% pay raise for city employees

The North Pole City Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday to raise city employee pay 3% starting Jan. 1, 2027, voting 6-0 to advance it after rejecting a bid to delay the measure for a work session.

The pay increase would not apply to the mayor, casual employees or temporary employees.

The work session motion failed on a 3-3 tie. One council member said the mayor had twice ignored requests for a workshop. The mayor said a work session would bar employee testimony.

Police Chief Heath Smith testified that trust in the council among city employees is low. "In city departments right now, the level of trust for city council at large is very low," he said.

The council also amended the ordinance twice, each on a 5-1 vote. One amendment excludes department heads and the mayor from shift differential pay. The other extends the raise to Public Works and Utilities employees.

The ordinance sets 3% annual step increases, matching a 2019 pay-scale ordinance.

Smith estimated the raise would cost the police department about $46,000. The city's chief financial officer said a full budget impact overview would be ready Friday.