Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael discussed a new round of raises, bonuses and benefits for city employees in 2023.
Bloomington city employees will see higher wages and bonuses, as well as more incentives, in 2023 as part of a new round of benefits introduced by outgoing Mayor John Hamilton.
Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael discussed the slew of additional benefits on Thursday, a little more than two weeks after he officially made the announcement.
“It's a hard time for employees, and it's a hard time for us. Any employer knows that. (We’re) making sure we do all we can to keep the employees that we have. They're a precious asset to our city. They provide all the services that so many people depend upon,” Hamilton said in a video update.
This year’s budget introduced the following items for city employees, according to the City of Bloomington’s website:
A 5% raise for all non-union employees
A $1,000 bonus distributed in two $500 payments (not applicable to sworn police officers and dispatchers)
A new deferred compensation annual subsidy of up to $780 for all employees through the City’s progressive 3:1 or 2:1 match of employee retirement contributions
COVID-19 vaccine discounts on health insurance premiums
Up to $2,500 in travel and lodging expenses for employees who wish to cross state lines for an abortion
A new health clinic for employees and their families, started by the fourth quarter of 2023
The incentives come in addition to two new pilot programs which include a new paid parental leave policy and a Commercial Driver’s License training program.
Employees will be able to take up to six weeks of paid parental leave at 100% of their salary, and they'll be able to choose any time in the first 12 months after giving birth, adopting, or fostering a child.
"So, one parent could take the first whatever amount of time they get off at their job, and then you could layer that to allow them more home time at home," Carmichael said.
Under the CDL program, new hires who need a CDL to do their job may receive the necessary training at no cost. The city has said it will pay up to $5,500 in training costs for each qualified employee.
“We're saying, ‘Come on in. If you're otherwise qualified for the job, we'll pay for the training. Now, you have to stay with us for two years. If you leave early, you got to pay back pro rata what we paid for, but we hope you'll stay a long time,’” Hamilton said.
Any employees who receive the training and later resign or are terminated will be required to reimburse the city for the pro rata cost.
The city has said it will continue to cover up to $100 in expenses for the medical exam associated with maintaining a CDL and provide the type of vehicle required to take the test.
On top of that, the city has invested in new programs to benefit public safety workers, such as:
A $5,000 annual raise for police officers, totaling approximately $2 million in new funds
$2 million annually for police and fire department facility upgrades
$750 monthly rent assistance for police or fire officers who rent in Bloomington
A $18,000 one-time down payment assistance for police or fire officers who purchase a home in Bloomington, after a probationary year
Recruitment incentives for new sworn police officers, including a $5,000 signing bonus for already-certified officers and $3,000 for non-certified applicants
A take-home patrol vehicle for police officers who live in the city limits or serve on specialty units
“We're doing all we can. We're going to keep working on this,” Hamilton said. “We are so proud of our city employees, we want to help them and their families, and do everything we can.”
