Total wages of village employees to climb by 5.7%

By DAN BENSON

Ozaukee Press staff

Wages and salaries for Village of Fredonia employees will go up 5.7% in 2023 but will total $28,153 less than what was projected in the 2023 budget, village trustees have been told.

Village Administrator Christophe Jenkins shared the news with the Village Board after completing a wage study that compared what village employees are paid to what employees in Ozaukee County government and 40 similar-sized municipalities are paid.

Based on the study, Jenkins recommended that Public Works Director Eric Paulus, who was hired this past fall at a salary of $70,000, receive a raise of $3,320 in 2024.

Jenkins also recommended Village Marshal Mike Davel receive a raise of $457 this year to $26,615.

The biggest change in pay rate was for Fredonia Fire Department EMT Shelly Alioto. Jenkins recommend she get an hourly wage of $25 in 2023, up from $17.03.

Alioto’s pay rate was far below the average hourly wage of $26.77 for someone in her position, the study showed.

“The fact that we were able to keep her is a miracle,” Jenkins said.

In 2022, village wages totaled $539,187, up from about $500,000 in 2021.

The village’s 2023 budget called for total wages of $593,840, but after making adjustments based on the wages study, that figure came in at $571,622.

A big reason for the drop from the budgeted amount is the elimination of three seasonal worker positions, with wages totaling $18,240.

The increase in wages is covered by the higher amount of taxes collected by the village after moving all of the village’s principal and interest payments to its debt levy, freeing up money from its general fund.

Among other village employees:

• Jenkins is paid $62,000 by the village and $28,000 by the Town of Fredonia, for whom he is the clerk.

•Treasurer Melissa Depies is paid $55,000, down from $64,000 when she was both clerk and treasurer.

• Newly hired Clerk Michelle Johnson’s salary is $48,000.