Llewellyn’s pay similar to other managers
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Llewellyn was afforded an increase of $13,400 after members of the city’s Finance Committee voted to increase his pay from $62,600 to $76,000, which is also based on an annually-renewable contract.
In sampling population and pay in neighboring towns, the Standard found Llewellyn’s pay was in line with what other city managers and administrators earn.
Although Cookeville City Manager Jim Shipley admitted the raise was “a big increase,” he said he personally would not have accepted a position in McMinnville for $62,600. Llewellyn started out at $61,000 less than a year ago, but received an increase about six months ago, city officials said.
Shipley said he accepted a position in Cookeville seven years ago for $67,000, but makes $92,256 a year today. Shipley said he did not think $76,000 was unreasonable pay for a city this size.
“It’s reasonable and to a lot of people in the area, it probably sounds like a lot of money, but it’s a lot of headache and job security isn’t that great for city managers,” Shipley said.
Tullahoma City Administrator Jody Baltz, who has been with the city for three years and is paid $74,000, said the pay seemed about right to him.
“The low 70s is about what the market is,” he said, although noting each town and its duties are different.
In Shelbyville, with a population of about 12,000, the city administrator makes $66,300 with about 178 full-time employees. However, the city is offered power, sewer and water from an independent source. McMinnville operates its own water and sewer plants and offers sanitation services.
In Manchester, with a population of 8,200, the city administrator makes about $67,000 plus fringe benefits. The general fund budget is about $9.8 million with 133 employees.
In a larger town such as Murfreesboro, the city manager’s base salary is $103,211 plus longevity pay. The city of Murfreesboro’s general fund budget is about $62.5 million, compared with McMinnville’s general fund budget of $9.9 million. The population there is about 66,000, while McMinnville’s is almost 13,000.
Llewellyn’s pay raise has received a lot of attention, but Finance Committee members also recommended pay raises for members of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, some mid-level managers and other city employees considered as receiving low pay.
City Administrator/ City Managers’ Pay
McMinnville
Population: 13,000
General fund budget: about $9.9 million
No. of employees: 155
Salary of city administrator: $76,000 with current administrator serving less than a year, about 10 years administrator/manager experience total
Tullahoma
Population: 18,000
General fund budget: $10 million
No. of employees: 144 full-time, 87 part-time
Salary of city administrator: $74,000 with current administrator serving three years
Manchester
Population: 8,200
General fund budget: $9.8 million
No. of employees: 133
Salary of city administrator: $67,000 plus fringe benefits with current administrator serving 2 1/2 years and 18 years of management experience
Shelbyville
Population: 12,000
General fund budget: $8 million
No. of employees: 178
Salary of city administrator: $66,300, time in service unknown
Cookeville
Population: 26,000
General fund budget: $17 million
No. of employees: 390
Salary of city manager: $92,256, with current manager serving past seven years as manager
Murfreesboro
Population: 66,000
General fund budget: $62 million
No. of employees: unknown
Salary of city manager: $103,211 plus longevity pay, with current manager with city in some capacity for 17 years
Source: reported from city hall officials and/or public records