LAC LA BICHE - Almost half of the Lac La Biche County workforce will continue to be awarded performance increases in the new year, thanks to narrowly-approved $589,784 decision by county councillors.
Merit increases scheduled for 134 municipal employees — averaging about $5,000 for the year for most on the list — were a topic of significant discussion at Lac La Biche County council's most recent meeting.
County officials say merit increases are offered a salary or hourly wage within a certain range when they’re hired, based on their experience and qualifications. If they perform well throughout the year, they’re eligible to receive a permanent pay raise (i.e. merit increase) on our pay grid (say, from $25 to $26.10 hourly). This is based on the assumption that staff get better and more efficient at their jobs over time, and gives them a goal to work toward.
Owl River area councillor Sterling Johnson suggested holding off on the increases as it presented poor optics to other community members who may be struggling during tough times.
"I think it shows poor taste, us giving our employees and increase, while others in the community have to take decreases," he said, going further to say that the wage perks are another way local businesses may see the municipality trying to "cherry pick" an already strained private-sector workforce.
Councillor Charlyn Moore is in favour of the contractual bonus system, but was surprised by the amount of the request coming to council for official approval. From a series of earlier budget meetings, the councillor understood the number was closer to $250,000.
Deputy Mayor Colin Cote said it would be a challenge to take away any amount of bonus when council has a 2021 budget that shows surplus funds and positive revenues.
"It's hard to justify not rewarding performance when there are no tax income or revenue issues," he said, going further to say that staff currently employed with the municipality have also shared in the hardships created from the pandemic and the poor global economy. "Those who remain are working even harder."
The majority of those employees in line for the increase, explained councillor Lorin Tkachuk are the entry-level staff and those who have been with the organization for only a short time. The bonus system helps to retain those staff members.
"We want to keep those people working toward our goals in the future," he said.
Budget has room
Councillor Jason Stedman said the bonus funds will be going to people who have earned it and who need it, rather than into the coffers of the municipality.
"If this was a county that was struggling this year, I could understand ... but we are sitting on a $3.5 million surplus. It's not that we need this money more than these people possibly could."
'Heavy' optics
Before the vote on the issue, Johnson again said many local businesses already see the municipality as being "a little heavy" when it comes to staffing and pay. This decision will re-enforce those feelings and go against council's responsibility to spend taxpayers' money accordingly and efficiently.
Councillor George L'Heureux has also heard the comments about the large municipal staff roster, "but that's a conversation for another day," he said.
For this year, where staff have really "stepped up" due to COVID measures, flooding and economic pressures — where they have chosen to work from home, cover shifts and go outside the scope of their ordinary roles, L'Heureux said the bonuses are warranted.
Councillor Darlene Beniuk said cut-backs and rollbacks were part of her career as a former provincial government employee.
"We took a five per cent cut across the board... we lived through it," she said, explaining that a decision to remove the bonus plan for staff is one of the difficult tasks council is elected to make. "When times are tough, you've got to do what you've got to do."
With one councillor not taking part in the vote due to a conflict of interest, the vote to remove the merit funding went to a 4-4 split. Tie motions are defeated.
* This article was updated on Dec. 26 at 11:40 pm to include the municipal explanation for merit increases.
