One major reason given for

Peachtree City's 11.8-percent budget increase was the recommended pay

raises set forth in the city's new pay plan.

The salary study, performed by The Mercer Group, calls for raises totalling

$493,876 for the city's 211 employees. Over half of the employees 127

had salaries below the market-adjusted pay grade according to that recommendation

for raises.

The study evaluated each employee's job duties and compared city salaries

to those offered by other municipalities and five private companies.

The city council voted to proceed with implementing the salary study at

its meeting last week. However, council members Annie McMenamin and Carol

Fritz expressed concern about how much influence city staff had on the

pay plan's outcome.

The pay study also provided a smaller schedule of raises that would have

cost $326,686. But Mayor

Bob Lenox said that would give the employees the "average" pay

when they are actually "excellent employees."

The final cost of the pay plan isn't finalized, however, since employees

will have a chance to appeal the recommendations of the Mercer Group.

While several council members expressed hesitations about the pay plan,

Lenox said council shouldn't look at each individual position and try

to influence the final outcome.

"The important thing is, do we have the right process here?"

Lenox said.

Lenox said he thought the pay plan was more sophisticated and flexible

than the city's current salary structure.

Fritz said she wanted more time to digest the information in the pay plan

paperwork.

"On one hand, I feel like I'm being told it's none of my business,"

Fritz said at one point during the discussion of the pay study.

Council unanimously agreed to accept the pay study and revisit the matter

at its first meeting in October to give employees time to file their appeals.