DURHAM, N.C. — Good news for Durham city employees. They could be getting pay bumps starting in July, with next year’s budget.
City council is considering the raises as part of the budget process.
The numbers show all four categories of Durham employees. Those on general step plans, open range pay, police, and fire are all being paid below market rate right now.
The new budget could change that as the raises are projected to cost about $28.5 million.
After protests from a range of employees at city meetings, pay raises could be in next year’s budget.
The city’s classification study and budget proposal keeps all employees, including police and fire, on their pay steps.
Changes for general step employees range from almost 8% up to 20%.
The pay adjustments for police range from about 14% up to almost 23%, with police corporals getting the biggest bump. Durham Fraternal Order of Police Spokesperson Larry Smith said a lot of law enforcement eyes are on these budget discussions.
“I think this particular one is very important,” Smith said. “Durham’s already running at a pretty significant operational vacancy, and we just don’t want to add to that. It’s being watched very closely.”
The pay adjustments reach almost 18% for firefighters. Some of the highest pay grades in the fire department were at or above market rate already.
Smith said they are pleased with this proposal and a bit frustrated it took so long to get these numbers.
The city manager will present her proposed budget on May 20.
North Carolina’s highest earners are concentrated around the state’s major metros, according to data from the Department of Commerce. People in Durham County are the highest earners when it comes to the private sector. The average income is over $90,000 every year. Mecklenburg, Wake, Orange and Forsyth round out the top five.
The majority of those counties are among the least distressed in the state when it comes to their economic prospect. Those counties are helping pull up the state average for private sector workers. That sits over $65,000 annually.
State or university employees aren’t included in the data since it only looks at the private sector.
