Administration says it has found funding to move raises from March to Dec. 1 as council unanimously approves police and fire pay increases
SHREVEPORT, La. — Shreveport’s administration has found funding to accelerate a planned 3% pay raise for classified city employees, potentially moving the increase from March 2027 to Dec. 1.
Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced the change Tuesday during the Shreveport City Council meeting, one day after council members pressed the administration to find a way to provide raises to other city employees closer to the same time as increases proposed for police and firefighters.
“We are in agreement with you,” Arceneaux told the council. “We found a way to do that.”
Arceneaux said Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark had identified the funding needed to accelerate the increase.
“We are in complete support of that effort, and Mr. Dark has found the money to make sure that it can happen,” Arceneaux said. Pasted text
The change will require additional council action. Arceneaux said the administration expects to bring legislation to the council at its next meeting and asked members to first approve the pending police and fire pay scales.
The council subsequently voted 7-0 to approve separate resolutions establishing new pay scales for fire and police civil service personnel effective Dec. 1.
Both groups will receive a 6% base pay increase. The compensation plans also include incentives based on education, certifications and other qualifications. Pasted text
The administration’s proposed 2027 budget had called for classified city employees to receive a 3% increase beginning March 1. More than 400 employees identified through a compensation study as among the city’s most underpaid positions are also scheduled to receive separate parity adjustments Jan. 1.
Council members questioned that timetable during Monday’s administrative conference, arguing that employees outside the police and fire departments should not have to wait several additional months for their increases.
By Tuesday afternoon, the administration had agreed.
Dark clarified the new schedule near the end of Tuesday’s meeting after council members asked that the changes be placed on the record.
“There will be two events. One of them December 1st and one of them January 1st,” Dark said.
On Dec. 1, the newly approved 6% increases for police and fire will take effect. Assuming the council approves the additional legislation at its next meeting, the 3% classified employee raise would also take effect that day.
On Jan. 1, police and fire personnel are scheduled to receive an additional 2% increase, while the previously planned parity adjustments for eligible classified employees would take effect.
Dark said moving the 3% classified increase ahead of the parity adjustments would also slightly increase the value of those January adjustments because they are calculated as a percentage of an employee’s pay.
“They’ll actually get slight benefit from that being a month later,” Dark said. Pasted text
The expanded compensation effort comes as Shreveport begins factoring substantial new revenue associated with data center development into its financial planning.
Dark told council members Monday that the city expects data centers to eventually generate an estimated $5 million to $7 million annually in property tax revenue and another $3 million to $4 million in electricity franchise fees.
Combined, the administration is projecting approximately $8 million to $11 million in recurring annual revenue from those sources.
The city plans to use temporary building permit revenue associated with data center construction during the initial phase before transitioning to recurring property tax and franchise fee revenue as the facilities become operational.
The council’s discussion Monday initially centered on whether the city could use its improved financial outlook to accelerate raises for employees outside public safety. Council members cited workers in finance, water and sewer, public works and other departments as they pushed for a broader approach to compensation.
Tuesday’s announcement represents the administration’s first response to that request.
The 3% classified employee increase is not yet final. Council approval of the additional legislation will be required before the accelerated Dec. 1 effective date can take effect.