Allegan District Library did a one time wage adjustment across the board last year. Not all increases were the same. I canvased hiring wages in SW Michigan and then took into account longevity.
We did not feel it was fair to just increase low paying wages, but also could not increase everyone's pay equally across the board. All staff have been affected by today's economy. I sat down with each individual to give them their pay increase letter if they had questions.
Best of luck.
Pam
Pamela Armstrong
Director
331 Hubbard Street
Allegan, MI 49010
269-673-4625
Fax: 269-673-8661
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We are a Class 1 library. We are in the same boat as far as minimum wage. The board is meeting Tuesday to look at how badly it is going to affect our budget and what they would like to do. The current thought is that anyone under will be raised $12.48. We can not raise everyone 20% . They are looking at how much they can raise incrementally everyone else. We do not have different positions only clerks and myself the director. Our staff has been here between 8 months and 10 years. We are looking at creating tiers based on library education; CEU’s, Beginners Workshop etc. But we are limited based on budget.
I would be interested in any responses you receive.
Kelli Lovasz
Director
North Branch Township Library
3714 Huron road
North Branch, MI 48461
810-688-2282
810-688-3165 (fax)
northbranchlibrary@northbranchlibrary.net
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Since this particular legislation used the inflation rate (.032), we are using that to give raises to the rest of the staff. It will be better then 2025 COL and will keep the staff content with the increase in min. wage across the board.
Amber Alexander
Library Director – MLIS
Presque Isle District Library
181 E. Erie Street
Rogers City, MI 49779
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We have 2 full time and 1 part time for our staff. The part time always received minimum wage and of course will go up to 12.48 in February. My Board decided at this past Monday’s meeting that would also give the 2 full time staff the same 2.15 raise when the new fiscal year starts on April 1. The 2.15 is the amount minimum wage is increasing and doing the 20% across board is not doable. Their reasoning was “it’s only fair and they feel the need to keep some distinction in pay level for positions that have more responsibility”.
We are a Class 2 library. It will make the budget tight but we can manage that for FY 2025-26 but don’t know about following years increases.
BillieJo Bluemer
Director
Rauchholz Memorial Library
1140 N Hemlock Rd
Hemlock MI 48626
989-642-8621
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I have Circ Desk staff that is at $13 and $15.21, as well as a Library page at $9.87 who is under 18. I proposed a 4 % increase in wages, (which we received last year), and a 6%, knowing that the Board would not accept the 20% increase. They did not like the six percent. It was the first view of the Wage Scenarios, so we will take another look at the next meeting. I did get the staff wages increased by $2 the last time (2018) this big increase in minimum wage was to take place, so I feel okay with where most of the staff is sitting.
Karen McKinnon, Library Director
Leighton Township Library
Education, Information, Recreation
4451 12th St PO Box H
Moline, MI 49335
(616)877-4143
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I'm a class III.
As this has happened in the past, everyone's wages get increased the difference of the old minimum wage to the new. And we're on a schedule to keep it going every year with the MI Dept of Treasury.
Christian Dunham | Director
Bullard Sanford
Memorial Library
facebook.com/vassarlibrary
vassarlibrary.org
989-823-2171
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I've been slowly raising our hourly staff wages for the past three years and I finally have our pages (our lowest paid staff) at $12.00. They were at $9.87 when I started in 2022. I've been raising everyone else at the same time, but at a slower rate. For February, only the pages will get bumped up to the $12.48. The rest will remain where they are for a bit.
Deb Hemmye
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686
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I'm a class 4 (but on the verge of class 3), but also in a similar situation. We are not doing 20% raises for everyone. Anyone under (currently have 3 just under) will be raised up, and I'm looking at doing a 5% raise for everyone else (provided the budget allows).
Hope this helps!
Amber Hughey
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We are a class 5 library. We only have one person who is making less than $12.48/hr and there is enough money in the PT salary budget to absorb the increase. That position is currently at $11.70/hr. Our fiscal year is July 1-June 30 so we are only talking about just over 4 months at the higher rate, which amounts to a few hundred dollars. Everyone else (who has been here over a year) would potentially get a raise on July 1, 2025. I'm hoping for 3% but it's too early to determine that.
For my PT salary budget, I budget for a full 52 weeks, but PT staff do not get holiday pay and they sometimes take days off so there is always a cushion and we end up not spending it all.
Patty Braden, Director
Romulus Public Library
11121 Wayne Road
Romulus, MI 48174
734-955-4516
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My board told me to figure that 20% raise for everyone. I have three four (4) people earning below the $12.48. As you stated, that would be AWESOME, but it totally blows our budget without cuts to some other things. Time will tell exactly what the board decides to do.
Nannette F. Pretzer, Director
St. Charles District Library
132 S. Saginaw Street
St. Charles, MI 48655
989-865-9371
n.pretzer@stcharlesdistrictlibrary.org
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We too have staff earning less than $12.48. My Board is considering giving everyone above the $12.48 minimum a $1 raise, some staff will fair better than others.
Kristina Knezic, Director
Berrien Springs Community Library
215 W. Union St.
Berrien Springs, MI 49103
269-471-7074
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Class I library here-
We only have 1
employee below the minimum wage. I will be raising just their payment. Our
fiscal year starts April 1, so the others will get their raise starting that
date instead.
Mary Gallup
Director
Clinton Township Public Library
100 Brown St. Clinton MI 49236
Thank you all for your responses!