OGDEN — Ogden city employees expressed concern, disappointment and frustration Tuesday with the city's plans to cut cost-of-living and merit-based pay increases next year.
To balance the $111 million budget, the administration suggested freezing the pay for all 600 employees during the 2004 fiscal year.
During a City Council meeting Tuesday, some 70 police officers and firefighters urged city leaders to go back to the drawing board and find other methods to make ends meet.
The linchpin in the dilemma is in the interpretation of the Ogden City Employee Manual, which states merit-based pay increases "will be awarded" annually to employees who pass certain evaluations.
"This is perceived as a contract by city employees," said John Saunders, of the Utah Alliance of Government Employees. "This is an increase the city is obligated by policy to fund. It isn't an option."
Or at least, in the past it hasn't been.
Employees say they need cost-of-living increases to make up for what they say are small salaries.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey, whose administration proposed the changes, tried to draw parallels between the state's budget and freezes in cost-of-living increases and other raises to that of Ogden city.
"We are not alone in this dilemma of budget cuts," he said.
He also told the police officers and firefighters that the decision to cut pay was "not a reflection of our assessment of your capability" but a matter of "necessity."
"There is no one in this administration that wants to cut your pay," he said.
Nevertheless, the employees see it as a matter of priorities.
"Lip service only goes so far. We can no longer afford to bite the bullet and tighten the belt so the city can balance the budget," said Dirk Youngbird, of the the International Association of Firefighters Local 1654.
Youngbird asked city officials to put money where their mouths are and show their support with funding for those responsible of protecting and defending the city.
City Management Services director Wayne Parker used national statistics pointing out the economic slump across the country to explain why city officials have suggested the pay freeze.
He used charts and figures to show that Ogden firefighters and police officers are compensated at a higher rate than their counterparts in other Utah cities.
However, police officers and firefighters presented other statistics showing the city on the lower end of the salary compensation scale.
Council Chairwoman Mary Hall said the issue would be revisited June 17 during another meeting when the council is expected to adopt a final budget.
The Ogden budget process began in January. The mayor passed along his suggestion in early May. The City Council is required to adopt a budget before June 22 of each year.
Both sides agreed there is room and time to strike a compromise.
E-mail: jparkinson@desnews.com