A growing city always balances two competing concepts in personnel budget planning – how do you hire the extra employees needed and still fill the need to provide pay raises for those currently on your staff?

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness told the City Council Finance Committee Wednesday evening that he tried to do just that in proposing parts of his 2019 city spending plan.  The mayor is proposing that a 3% pay increase be included in the budget for next year.  The 3% raise would also apply to elected city officials.

The mayor is also proposing to add 5 new police officers to the force…with 2 of those 5 to be assigned as resource officers in HSE Schools.  He also wants council members to add 3 new firefighter positions.

The budget blueprint does not increase the health insurance costs for city workers, and continues the city match to employee contributions to the 457 retirement savings plan.