Oklahoma City Council voted 7-0 last Tuesday to defer potential pay hikes for the trio until Dec. 17, but no reason was given for the delay. City councilmen discussed the issue in executive session, which is not open to the public.
Couch, Municipal Counselor Kenneth Jordan and City Auditor Jim Williamson were scheduled to receive pay increases and annual allowances in lieu of automobile expenses at the Nov. 5 meeting.
Typically, union contracts are finalized before salary increases are considered for city management and employees, said OKC spokeswoman Kristy Yager.
The International Association of Fire Fighters reached a contract settlement with the city in October, but the police and general employees unions still are negotiating their contracts with city officials. Firefighters received an average pay hike of 2.6 percent across the board. In addition, the city agreed to pay an additional $334 toward each firefighter’s insurance premium.
Couch was hired as city manager in November 2000 and currently is paid $229,407 a year in salary. Jordan became municipal attorney in January 2006 and is paid $173,779 a year while Williamson earns $141,618 a year. He was appointed to that position in September 2008.
All city employees received a cost-of-living adjustment last year, Yager said.
The city manager, municipal attorney and city auditor are hired by the city council.
