The longevity compensation plan is hereby adopted and is designed to reward continuous satisfactory service in municipal employment in all classes of positions both classified and unclassified according to the following schedule:
Years of Service | Percent of Annual Salary of Longevity Premium |
0 through 5th year | 0 |
Beginning of 6th year through end of 10th year | 4 |
Beginning of 11th year through end of 15th year | 6 |
Beginning of 16th year through end of 20th year | 8 |
Beginning of 21st year and following | 10 |
Payment of longevity premium will be subject to the following:
(1) Years of service. These are considered as years of full-time service as a city employee of any class beginning with the starting date of the employee's first appointment. Any time served as a part-time employee (working less than twenty-one (21) hours per week or less than forty-two (42) hours per pay period) will not count toward eligibility for longevity pay. Any time in a leave-without-pay status in excess of ten (10) continuous working days will not count as time of service for longevity eligibility, but also will not be considered as a break in service. Military leave will fully count toward eligibility for longevity pay.
(2) Method of payment. The longevity premium will be paid in two (2) semi-annual installments: Half of the annual amount on the payday for the pay period in which June 1 falls, and half on the payday for the pay period in which December 1 falls. This is done so as to provide additional funds when needed most: around June 1 for vacation expenses, and around December 1 for holiday expenses. Employees becoming eligible for longevity compensation for the first time or becoming eligible for an increased increment will receive the first longevity premiums or increment increase amount on a pro rata basis for the period of eligibility in a method to be determined by the finance department.
(3) Percentage of annual pay. The amount of longevity pay will be based on the stated fixed percentage of the salary actually received by the employee during the six-month period immediately preceding the dates upon which longevity payments shall be made, as set forth in subsection (2) hereof. For purposes of this section the term "salary actually received by the employee" shall not include salary received in excess of the base pay.
(4) Deductions. Longevity pay will be subject to all applicable taxes and pension deductions. Such deductions will be made from longevity pay for amounts withheld.
(5) Table. A table of longevity payments will be established by the finance department showing semiannual longevity payment amounts at each pay step for each "percentage of annual pay" and will be available for use of all concerned.
(6) Determination of eligibility. The personnel department will be responsible for the accurate determination twice each year of each employee's length of service, including approved prior service credit, if any, and the resulting eligibility for the proper annual percentage of longevity pay.
(7) Eligibility for benefits. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to any individual entering into employment with the city on or after May 1, 1977.
(Ord. No. 3345, § 1, 10-16-69; Ord. No. 3597, § 1, 1-25-71; Ord. No. 4077, § 1, 8-6-73; Ord. No. 4330, § 1, 2-24-75; Ord. No. 4642, § 1, 5-2-77; Ord. No. 10426, § 2, 6-19-07; Ord. No. 10550, § 2, 6-17-08; Ord. No. 10675, § 2, 6-2-09, eff. 7-1-09; Ord. No. 10806, § 2, 6-15-10, eff. 7-1-10; Ord. No. 10900, § 2, 6-28-11, eff. 7-1-11; Ord. No. 10989, § 3, 6-5-12, eff. 7-1-12; Ord. No. 11075, § 5, 5-21-13, eff. 7-1-13; Ord. No. 11134, § 2, 12-17-13; Ord. No. 11180, § 2, 6-3-14, eff. 6-29-14; Ord. No. 11273, § 2, 6-9-15, eff. 6-28-15; Ord. No. 11373, § 2, 6-7-16, eff. 6-26-16)
Editor’s note – Ord. No. 11180, § 2, adopted June 3, 2014, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2015. Appendix A and accompanying schedules are implemented for all classified and unclassified employees, effective June 29, 2014. Ord. No. 11273, § 2, adopted June 9, 2015, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2016. Appendix A and accompanying schedules are implemented for all classified and unclassified employees, effective June 28, 2015. Ord. No. 11373, § 2, adopted June 7, 2016, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2017. Appendix A and accompanying schedules are implemented for all classified and unclassified employees, effective June 26, 2016. Ord. No. 11464, § 2, adopted June 6, 2017, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2018. Appendix A and accompanying schedules are implemented for all classified and unclassified employees, effective June 25, 2017. Ord. No. 11558, § 2, adopted June 5, 2018, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2019. Ord. No. 11611, § 3, adopted December 18, 2018, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2019. Ord. No. 11659, § 2, adopted June 18, 2019, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2020. Ord. No. 11848, § 2, adopted June 22, 2021, and Ord. No. 11910, § 3, adopted February 23, 2022, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for Fiscal Year 2022. Appendix A and accompanying schedules are implemented for all classified and unclassified employees, effective June 23, 2018. Ord. No. 11935, § 2, adopted June 7, 2022, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for fiscal year 2023. Ord. No. 12012, § 2, adopted June 6, 2023, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for fiscal year 2024. Ord. No. 12101, § 2, adopted June 4, 2024, ratified, reaffirmed, and reenacted this section for fiscal year 2025.