Only in Bridgeport

Award-winning journalist Lennie Grimaldi cracks open the juicy stuff in Connecticut's largest city

Bridgeport Pay Hike Question: Essential Or Excessive?

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Mayor Bill Finch says pay increases to roughly 80 non-classified city positions are necessary to attract quality job applicants. Opponents claim the city ordinance pushing salary hikes is being rushed through the City Council. A public hearing on this issue will take place Tuesday, 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers before the full council meets at 7  to potentially vote on the matter.

The ordinance states … “the Mayor may authorize salary increases within the salary ranges established by ordinance or not more than fifteen percent (15%) outside of such salary ranges as the Mayor deems warranted …” The positions include discretionary appointments of the mayor such as office staff.

Critics, including the Connecticut Post Editorial Board, claim the increases are out of line, particularly in light of the city’s fiscal condition in a difficult economy that required extensive givebacks by unionized personnel. The mayor says many of his discretionary appointments sacrificed more than bargaining units.

What say you?

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Categories: General

5 Responses

  1. Dump Finch says:

    So ole billy boy You sir have the audacity to want to be called The HONORABLE Bill Finch..? You are a man without morals or honor..!

  2. Hammond Egger says:

    Anyone read the nauseating letter Bill wrote to the Post?How he’s lived here 30 yrs paying taxes and how some years he ‘struggled’ only making $50,000.So what?Many of us live on that NOW. ( I do..at least I TRY to).And we get no raises,and our unions sell us out because guys like you,Bill Finch threaten to lay us off.These cronies,he’s hired..what EXACTLY have they done for Bpt.Brought in industry,or jobs?NO.They have done-and will do-nothing.Bpt is now trying to unseat New Haven for the title of murder capital of the NE.Finch should fire all these do-nothings,and hire more cops.Instead of writing letters to soothe his bruised ego

  3. sadinbpt says:

    Can you please outline the steps for an official RECALL? This is an outrage and a slap in the face for the city property owners.

  4. Hammond Egger says:

    What a load of crap,from the “King of BS”,Bill Finch. Neccesary to hike salaries to ‘attract qualified applicants”???? None of Finch’s cronies are qualified to collect trash,or cut grass.They got these big dollar do nothing jobs-and now big raises-because they are pals of the mayor.They should be all fired,as Finch bullied and squeezed the unionized workers-who actually WORK-for concessions,while hiring these political hacks.

  5. AlFromBlackRock says:

    I voted for this Mayor on the endorsement by the CT Post.
    what a Rag!

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