A proposed pay plan would add $869,006 to employee salaries in the City of Minot’s 2018 budget.

The Minot Civil Service Commission received information on the plan at a meeting Wednesday. The proposed compensation plan shows an increase of 3.67 percent in base payroll, not including benefit costs. This compares with a 4.21 percent increase or $987,989 in the 2017 pay plan and 5.5 percent or $821,744 in 2016.

The city operates with a salary schedule that considers competitiveness with other municipalities and the private sector. Salaries change as employees advance through grades or adjustments are made to keep the plan competitive. In the proposed plan, only .58 percent of the 3.67 percent increase is due to equity adjustments to keep pace with market salaries. For employees at the top of their grades, a 2 percent cost-of-living increase is proposed.

The Minot City Council will consider the pay plan when it reviews the proposed 2018 budget.

The current year employee turnover rate is 4.2 percent, compared to 6.75 percent for the same time period a year ago. Turnover during 2016 was 13.5 percent and during 2015 was 18.9 percent.

– Jill Schramm