Classified employees will receive a 3% increase in December, with additional adjustments for more than 400 workers in January.
SHREVEPORT, La. — The Shreveport City Council unanimously approved new pay scales for classified municipal employees Tuesday, clearing the way for a 3% pay increase beginning Dec. 1 and additional compensation adjustments for more than 400 workers beginning Jan. 1.
The council voted 7-0 on Resolutions 124 and 125 during its Nov. 10 meeting, advancing the city’s employee compensation plans as officials outlined how revenue associated with two Caddo Parish data center projects would help finance the increases.
During a public hearing on the proposed 2027 municipal budget, Shreveport Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark said building permit fees from the data centers would provide initial funding for employee raises.
“Even though that is not a recurring source of revenue, we are confident that property taxes and the fees we get from electricity usage will provide us with enough revenue to pay for those increases in the future,” Dark told council members.
The statement highlighted the administration’s expectation that one-time construction-related revenue will eventually be supplemented by recurring tax and utility-related collections.
More than 400 employees eligible for additional adjustments
Under the approved compensation schedules, classified city employees will receive a 3% increase effective Dec. 1.
More than 400 employees will also receive parity adjustments of at least 4% beginning Jan. 1, according to the administration’s budget presentation.
Police and fire personnel are also scheduled to receive 6% base pay increases beginning in December, with additional incentives available to some employees during 2027.
Before approving Resolution 125, council members questioned revisions to the January compensation chart that had been distributed following the Human Resources Board’s meeting the previous day.
Dark explained that the board had made two adjustments involving positions in the water and sewer department.
“The HR board made, I think, two very minor changes to the chart yesterday at their meeting,” Dark said. “So we had to get you the correct one so you’d be voting on the correct one.”
A city attorney subsequently identified the affected positions as Certified Maintenance Specialist II and Certified Maintenance Specialist IV.
After receiving clarification, the council approved the revised January pay scale unanimously.
Proposed operating budget approaches $680 million
The compensation decisions came as Shreveport officials presented an overview of the city’s proposed 2027 budget.
The proposed operating budget totals just under $680 million, approximately 1% more than the original 2026 budget.
The general fund, which supports services including police, fire, public works and other municipal operations, is proposed at $337.6 million.
The administration projects sales tax revenue growth of less than 2% in 2027, compared with approximately 3% growth reported for the current year.
Officials also outlined a proposed capital budget exceeding $1.2 billion, much of which represents projects authorized in previous years. Approximately $45 million is designated for new projects, primarily involving streets, airports and transit.
An additional $90 million in capital funding is expected following another sale of bonds authorized by voters in 2024.
The administration said no immediate water and sewer rate increase is proposed for 2027, although future increases could become necessary as the city finances additional utility infrastructure projects.
City officials also expressed concern about declining reserves in the water and sewer fund and uncertainty surrounding future gaming revenue.
The council will conduct a detailed departmental budget review Thursday, Nov. 12, beginning at 9 a.m.
The proposed 2027 budget has not yet been adopted. City officials anticipate final action Dec. 8, ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline.