Grand Rapids City Officials vote to give themselves a substantial wage increase over the next 2 years, so how does that promote equity?

Last month, the Local Officers Compensation Commission adopted a resolution to increase the pay of Grand Rapids City Commissioners, the Mayor and the City Comptroller, based on the Agenda Packet for the City Commission meeting for April 13. (Pages 99 – 111) 

On April 13, during the City Commission meeting, the pay increase resolution was adopted. The current pay for City Commissioners, which is a part-time job, is $25,397. City Commissioners will receive $28,000 for 2022 and $31,000 for 2023. This means that the City Commissioners will be receiving on average $2,800 for each of the next two years. 

The Mayor of Grand Rapids current receives $44.188 for a part-time position. In 2022, the Mayor will receive $52,000 and in 2023, the pay for the Mayor position will be $60,000. This means that the Local Officers Compensation Commission decided that the Mayor should get an increase of $8,000 for each of the next two years.

Now, let me say that in many ways I have no problem that the City Commissioners and the Mayor of Grand Rapids will receiving substantial pay increases over the next two years. I think they deserve to make a more livable wage for their work. However, I think we all deserve to make a more livable wage for the work that we do, regardless of the type of work we are engaged in. However, their wage increases should have a major condition(s).

Therefore, I would like to see the Mayor of Grand Rapids and the entire City Commission make a collective public statement that they support and are committed to making sure that every resident of Grand Rapids, especially those who are subjected to poverty, should get the same rate of wage increase over the next two years. Grand Rapids City Commissioners will be receiving a 10.25% wage increase for 2022 and a 10.71% wage increase for 2023. The Mayor of Grand Rapids will be receiving a 17.68% wage increase in 2022 and a 15.38% wage increase for 2023. 

As a comparison, I made the same amount of money in 2020 as the City Commissioners did, except that my job is full time, while theirs is part time. I do direct care for residents who have had closed head injuries and need assistance with their daily care. It would make a significant improvement in my life to receive a 10% increase in wages each of the next two years. I have no doubt that most people would welcome the same type of increase, since it would make all of our lives a little bit less stressful. 

Since the Grand Rapids Elected Officials are being paid by our collective tax dollars, I want to see them make a public statement in support of a livable wage for all residents of Grand Rapids, particularly for the thousands of people who currently do not make enough money for the cost of living in Grand Rapids. In 2017, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), an individual must make at least $20.98 per hour working a full-time job to afford a three-bedroom apartment at market rate in the Grand Rapids area. 

Now I know that Grand Rapids Elected Officials don’t have the legal authority to make employers pay a livable wage, but making a public statement would go a long way to building momentum for a livable wage in Grand Rapids. In addition, the City of Grand Rapids could make sure that everyone who is employed by the City, makes a livable wage, regardless of the work they do.

Grand Rapids Elected Officials are always talking about equity, so here is their chance to take a public stance about equitable income. If they don’t come out as champions of a livable wage, then their acceptance of the pay increases is nothing short of hypocrisy.