Huntsville City Council approves $360 million budget, officers raise pay concerns

Huntsville City Council approves $360 million budget, officers raise pay concerns

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - The Huntsville City Council approved a $360 million budget at 10:49 p.m. Thursday, following a lengthy meeting in which police officers confronted council members over pay and staffing shortages.

Police and fire are set to receive the largest share of funding under the proposed spending plan. The budget includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for eligible city employees. As of the meeting, the budget had not yet been approved.

Huntsville police investigator Jonathan Sallis, who has served with the department for 23 years, told the council the department is significantly understaffed.

“We have rookies right now training rookies. We are short anywhere from 80 to 90 officers right now,” Sallis said.

Sallis said the proposed pay scale adjustment does not adequately address retention of experienced officers.

“The beginning of the pay scale, yes, it does good for your beginning officers, theres nothign wrong with that, I’m proud of that. However, for your middle officers, your senior officers, 20, 25, 30 years, it does nothing for them.” Sallis said.

Sallis said staffing shortages ...