Title
Amendments to Classification Plan S-5815 in Accordance with Human Resources Committee 614 Recommendations (Ordinance S-48823)
Description
As part of a classification and compensation study, the following amendments to the Classification Plan [S-5815] are proposed in accordance with the recommendation of Human Resources Committee 614, effective Aug. 8, 2022. The proposed pay structure is found in Attachment A.
The proposal will also require modifications to the City’s Pay Ordinance [S-47689], which will be processed under a separate ordinance.
The proposed changes will:
Establish new salary ranges for the following classifications, including all assignments: Police Recruit, Police Officer, Police Sergeant, Police Lieutenant, Police Commander, and Police Chief that will result in the City of Phoenix being a market leader. The salary ranges will be adjusted by modifying the Grade for these classifications and assignments as provided in Attachment A.
Report
Summary
BACKGROUND
As the fifth largest city in the country, it is important for the City of Phoenix to make strategic efforts to attract and retain high quality employees to provide sworn police services. One such effort is to ensure job classifications are placed in grades that lead the local market in this job family.
Currently, a Citywide classification and compensation study is underway in partnership with Koff & Associates and is expected to be completed in early 2023. Concerns about the number of vacancies and the difficulty of recruiting in the sworn ranks of the Police Department necessitated that these job classifications be addressed immediately and prompted a market review of salaries.
FINDINGS
A salary survey of the local agencies Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Maricopa County, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, State of Arizona, Surprise, and Tempe was conducted for all sworn ranks from Police Recruit through Police Chief. The data gathered included base salary, productivity enhancement pay, career enhancement pay, uniform allowance, and deferred compensation contributions. The survey showed that the base salary range for the sworn ranks of the Phoenix Police Department are below the local market.
PROPOSED SALARY STRUCTURE
An entirely new salary structure is proposed, from the Recruit rank to the Police Chief. The proposed salary range for each rank is targeted to be the market leader in our local area. Redesigning the pay structure of all sworn classifications will assist to attract and retain staff who will serve the largest municipal population in the state. The changes to the other ranks maintain the appropriate relationship among the various classification levels as well.
The new salary range for Police Officer, which incorporates Career Enhancement Pay into the Police Officer base salary, establishes Phoenix as the local market leader.
Financial Impact
The total estimated cost to the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2022-23 is $19.8 million and will be absorbed in the existing budget.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This action was reviewed and recommended for approval by Human Resources Committee 614 on June 8, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Human Resources Department.