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Administrator might get pay raise he didn't want

EVANSVILLE — City Administrator Dan Wietecha might get a raise he says he doesn't want.

He was ready to accept a wage freeze in 2010 along with the city's other salaried employees. But the city council won't let him.

The council Tuesday voted 6-1 to approve the city budget, which includes a line item that would allow for a 3 percent raise for the city administrator, despite his opposition.

"It's a safe assumption the council is looking in that direction, but (a raise) was not actually approved," Wietecha said.

The finance committee recommended the increase, but Wietecha told the council he didn't want to be singled out.

"I don't think it's appropriate, given a number of circumstances," he said. "If I am recommending that all non-union employees have a pay freeze, I certainly think that should apply to me as well."

The city's 10 salaried employees will have a wage freeze while the city's union employees will receive a 3.5 percent pay and benefits increase next year.

Finance committee members made the recommendation after considering that Wietecha is working hard but voluntarily took no raise this year, Mayor Sandy Decker said.

Wietecha was the only one this year to not get an increase because at budget discussions last year, "he basically said he was willing to forego a salary increase," she said.

Concerned committee members anticipated an even more difficult budget process next year, Decker said, so they worried they wouldn't have the flexibility to give Wietecha a raise in 2011.

Some committee members also were concerned that no pay increases for the city administrator position would put the salary range of department heads "out of whack," she said.

The increase will bring his salary to $67,357 in 2010.

Alderwoman Barb Jacobson voted against the increase because of economic concerns, not job performance, Decker said. Alderman Tony Wyse was not present.