County Council Member Campisi drafted and attempted to pass the following resolution which met with negative results!

WHEREAS, the St. Louis County Council members are aware that the starting salaries for Police Officers has fallen to 27th and dispatchers to 24th in a survey comparing salaries of police departments within the St. Louis metropolitan area In the state of Missouri; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to remain competitive and ensure retention of thelarge number of Police Officers hired this year and in future years; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to take steps to insure that the investment of $50,000 perofficer estimated for the recruitment and training will not be lost within two to five years to other local police departments offering better pay. and medical health insurance benefits;

NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:
SECrION 1..The St. Louis County Council supports and recommendsa pay schedule increase of a Departmental average of 6.5%, not including the 5% merlt increase fbr 2008, and the implementation of a “Years in Service Pay Schedule” that will raise the starting base salary of commissioned police personnel to $46, 600, whichwill raise the Departments starting salary ranking to 11th within the St. Louis Metropolitan area in the State of Missouri.
SECTION 2. The St. Louis County Council recommends a proposal to establish years in service steps, which will provide for 4% increases for each year of additional service which would allow a Police Officer to reach their top salary of $66,300 in ten years.
SECTION 3. The St. Louis County Council recommends that once the “Years in Service Pay Schedule” is established, that it be maintained periodically to keep the salaries competitive within the St. Louis Metropolitan area in the State of Missouri.
SECTION 4. The St. Louis County Council recommends the mid-point salary of $56,700 to be reached in year six to provide a mid-point ranking of 5th from the present mid-point ianking of 19th.
SECTION 5. The St. Louis County Council recommends a 14% increase for the position of Dispatch within the Bureau of Communications to remain cortpetitive within the St. Louis County Metropolitan area so that their ranking will be raised to 11th from the present ranking of 24th.
SECTION 6. The St. Louis County Counci’ recommends the elimination of Service Recognition Pay for years of service 5 through 9 which is $800 annual recognition and year 10 which is a $1,200 annual recognition thereby providing an approximate savings of $250,OQQ in 2008 and slightly more in 2009 if the other