Compensation & Benefits

Welcome to the City of Florence's compensation and benefits program page! At the City of Florence, we strive to attract, retain, and reward the best and brightest employees. Our compensation program is designed to ensure that our employees are compensated fairly and competitively, while also taking into account job responsibilities, experience, and performance.

Please note that employees belonging to the Florence Police Employees' Associate (FPEA) have their compensation and benefits governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Medical benefits are the same for all employees. See here for more information: https://www.ci.florence.or.us/hr/florence-police-employees-association

Salary Information

Compensation

To achieve this goal, the City of Florence has adopted a Job and Pay Framework that was approved by the City Council on November 1, 2021. This framework is designed to provide a consistent and fair method of evaluating jobs and determining appropriate pay levels for each position within the City.

In addition to the Job and Pay Framework, we have updated our Pay Administration Guidelines to provide clear guidance on how pay is administered. These guidelines ensure that our pay practices are transparent, consistent, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Please see this page for more information: https://www.ci.florence.or.us/hr/city-salary-schedule-and-pay-administra...

Merit Increases

At the City of Florence, we believe in recognizing and rewarding our employees for their hard work and dedication. As part of our commitment to this principle, we conduct annual performance evaluations for all employees. These evaluations provide an opportunity for supervisors and employees to discuss job performance and set goals for the coming year.

See the above compensation link for more information. Employees in grades 1-7 are on a merit step system, which has 12 steps and is 4% between each step. Employees in grades 8+ are on a merit performance system and are eligible for 0/2/4% per year based upon their performance rating.

Cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA)

In addition to merit increases, the City of Florence also provides cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to eligible employees. These adjustments are typically applied on July 1, assuming budgetary approval, and are based on the U.S., All Cities CPI-W for March to February of the previous year. The percentage of the adjustment can vary between 1-3%.

Promotional opportunities

We also offer promotional opportunities to our employees. Each job within the organization is designed to have levels for career growth, and we encourage our employees to pursue these opportunities. Moving within your level may result in at least 3% increases, while promotions involving role changes can result in 7% increases. We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, and we support our employees in their career growth aspirations.

Benefits

We believe that providing competitive benefits is an important part of attracting and retaining top talent. As a City of Florence employee, you can expect a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical benefits, paid time off, and Oregon PERS (Public Employees Retirement System).

Medical Benefits

Our medical benefits include a variety of options to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We offer a high deductible medical plan, dental and vision coverage, and health savings accounts to help offset healthcare costs. Additionally, we offer an employee assistance program to help employees and their families with personal and work-related challenges.

see more information about our medical benefits here: https://www.ci.florence.or.us/hr/employee-medical-benefits

Paid Time Off

Our paid time off program includes vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay. The amount of leave accrued depends upon the employee's years of service with the organization. As a new employee you will earn:

• 8 hours of sick leave per month;
• 8 hours of vacation leave per month (note: probationary employees accrue vacation leave, but cannot use it until after they clear probation - 6 months); and
• 12 paid holidays (there are 9 observed holidays where City offices are closed; employees are given 3 floating holidays to use each year).

Oregon Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

As a City of Florence employee, you will also participate in the Oregon PERS retirement program. This program provides retirement and disability benefits, as well as survivor benefits to eligible employees. After becoming PERS eligible (typically after about 6-months of employment), the employee is responsible for contributing 6% of their subject wages to an individual account plan (IAP) at PERS. The City increases employee base wages by 5% at this time to help offset the PERS required contributions.

You can learn more about PERS here: https://vimeo.com/654717128

There is also a Pension Plan with PERS that is funded by employer contributions, as well as investment earnings. The pension is a monthly benefit paid out to eligible members of the program in accordance with the plan rules. Eligibility and plan management for PERS benefits is determined solely by PERS and depends on factors such as an employee's length of service, age, and salary.

457(b) Retirement Contribution Plans

At the City of Florence, we understand the importance of planning for retirement and offer our employees a 457(b) retirement contribution plan. This plan is a supplemental retirement savings plan that allows employees to contribute a portion of their pre-tax income to a retirement account. The contributions made to the plan grow tax-free until the employee withdraws them in retirement. One of the many benefits of a 457(b) plan is that it allows employees to save more for retirement than they could with a traditional 401(k) plan. Additionally, the plan offers flexible contribution options, allowing employees to contribute up to the annual maximum or adjust their contribution amounts as needed.

We are committed to helping our employees plan for a financially secure retirement and are proud to offer this valuable benefit through several plan providers. If you have any questions about our 457(b) plan or retirement planning in general, please reach out to our Human Resources department.

Police On-the-Job Training for Qualified Veterans (GI-Bill)

The City of Florence is proud to support our veterans and provide them with opportunities for professional development. Through the GI Bill, veterans who join the City's police department as police officers are eligible to receive on-the-job training benefits. The City's police department is an eligible facility for veterans seeking to use their GI Bill benefits, which can help them gain valuable skills and experience in law enforcement. We are committed to supporting our veterans and are honored to have them join our team. If you are a veteran interested in using your GI Bill benefits at the City of Florence, please contact our Human Resources department for more information.

To learn more about the benefit program, please see here: https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/...

At the City of Florence, we are committed to providing our employees with a competitive compensation and benefits program that recognizes their contributions and supports their well-being. We believe that our program helps us attract and retain the best employees, who in turn provide the highest quality services to our community.