Libby city workers receive 2.7 percent pay hike

Libby City Council members on Monday voted to approve a 2.7 percent pay raise for Municipal Judge Lucille Briggs. 

The salary increase includes a 1 percent longevity hike with a 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment.

Recently, City Council members voted to approve the same raises for 23 full-time hourly city workers, which includes three at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, two in water distribution, five in law enforcement, five at City Hall, three at the Water Treatment Plant and five in the Street Department, which also cares for the city’s parks.

Four supervisors — Street Department Foreman Corky Pape, City Clerk Glena Hook, Police Chief Jim Smith and City Administrator Jim Hammons — also received 2.7 percent raises.

However, the City Council and mayor voted to not increase their salaries.

City Council members receive a stipend of about $366 a month.

Also getting stipend raises were Fire Chief Tom Wood, Fire Marshal Steve Lauer and Scott Beagle.

“The raises this year come two years after our last raise,” Hook said. “We did not receive a pay raise last year.”

Hook estimated the salary increases, including pay raises and benefits, will cost the city an additional $16,000 per year.

Recently, Lincoln County officials agreed to hold the line on salaries. Unlike city workers, county employees received a raise last year. 

“(The city’s) OK,” Hammons said. “If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be giving raises.”