Council approves FY26 pay scale including step increases for police chief, captains and lieutenants amid public concern

The Milford City Council approved the fiscal year 2026 pay scale on a recorded vote after a presentation by human resources staff and questions from council members. The adopted update implements the pay study’s recommended scale and includes a one-step pay-grade increase for the police chief, police captains and police lieutenants.
The pay-scale action follows a professional pay study and budget approval earlier in the meeting. Jamisha Williams, the city’s human resources director, told the council the packet includes the FY26 pay scale and that the chief recommended adjustments for the chief, captains and lieutenants.
The pay adjustments prompted public comment before the vote. Catherine Stetson submitted an email objecting to the proposed large salary increases for the police chief and command staff, saying the increases are “out of the pay range for comparable cities” and recommending a neutral third-party salary survey before approving the changes. Trish Marble and Kim Wills publicly praised the police department and thanked staff for the recent Milford Night Out event; Marble also raised concerns about a local newspaper publisher and a possible conflict of interest related to coverage of earlier salary discussions.
Council members asked for clarification about how the pay-study adjustments and any future cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) interact. Finance staff and other administrators explained that the pay study’s scale changes replace routine COLA adjustments in years when a professional pay study is adopted; COLA remains discretionary and is presented to council as part of the budget process in other years. Officials also noted the adjustments presented were for nonunion employees, and that merit increases remain distinct from the scale adjustments.
The council voted to adopt the FY26 pay scale that includes the chief/captain/lieutenant adjustments; the transcript records the motion carried with five yes votes and one recorded no, with one councilmember absent.
Council members and staff emphasized that future adjustments would be tied to the budget process and to any additional pay studies, and that employees retain the right to appeal assessed valuations and other administrative actions through existing processes.
The council’s action updates job titles, pay grades and the city’s pay table for implementation in FY26; administration will effect payroll changes consistent with the adopted schedule.