City Administrator's Pay Raise Included in Budget
By: Erin Wolfe
Updated: April 29, 2010
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Some city pay raises are coming under fire in light of recent cuts.
Bruce Zimmerman is Hagerstown's city administrator, making him the city's highest paid employee.
He recently signed a new contract that includes a $4,000 step raise. However, city officials say this is the first step increase he's accepted since 2005.
Zimmerman has been working for the city since 1994. His starting salary was $63,240. Since then it's about doubled to $125,258. After his raise takes effect, he'll be paid $129,459.
If the proposed budget is accepted for next fiscal year, every city employee will have to take 10 furlough days. That will be built into their pay scale, so instead of missing a whole day in a week, they'll see a 3.85 percent reduction in their overall pay.
Zimmerman's bump goes into effect on June 13th, but at the start of the next fiscal year on July 1st, he'll be facing the same reduction as all the other employees.
"I can't stress enough that I think in light of the fact that he has said, "No thank you," for so long, and if you compare this to other compensations below his level, even with a raise he would fall far below the norm," says Donna Frazier, who works in human resources for the city.
Zimmerman's salary was approved unanimously by all the city council members who were present at the last work session.
He is entitled to 13 pay raises. He currently is at his 11th step. His pay is capped once he reaches $137,883.
All other city employees who were entitled to a step raise were given the bump this fiscal year as well.
Bruce Zimmerman is Hagerstown's city administrator, making him the city's highest paid employee.
He recently signed a new contract that includes a $4,000 step raise. However, city officials say this is the first step increase he's accepted since 2005.
Zimmerman has been working for the city since 1994. His starting salary was $63,240. Since then it's about doubled to $125,258. After his raise takes effect, he'll be paid $129,459.
If the proposed budget is accepted for next fiscal year, every city employee will have to take 10 furlough days. That will be built into their pay scale, so instead of missing a whole day in a week, they'll see a 3.85 percent reduction in their overall pay.
Zimmerman's bump goes into effect on June 13th, but at the start of the next fiscal year on July 1st, he'll be facing the same reduction as all the other employees.
"I can't stress enough that I think in light of the fact that he has said, "No thank you," for so long, and if you compare this to other compensations below his level, even with a raise he would fall far below the norm," says Donna Frazier, who works in human resources for the city.
Zimmerman's salary was approved unanimously by all the city council members who were present at the last work session.
He is entitled to 13 pay raises. He currently is at his 11th step. His pay is capped once he reaches $137,883.
All other city employees who were entitled to a step raise were given the bump this fiscal year as well.
