Shreveport City Council gave its unanimous approval to a package of pay raises that will take effect this December for city employees and on Jan. 1, 2027 for police officers and firefighters. The council adopted two resolutions that provide a 3% increase for classified staff and a 6% base‑pay boost for the city’s police and fire personnel.
Funding sources and timeline
Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark explained that the raises will be drawn primarily from the General Fund, with initial financing coming from building‑permit fees generated by two new data‑center projects in Caddo Parish. Dark noted that the permit revenue is a one‑time source, but the city expects ongoing property‑tax and utility‑fee collections from the data centers to sustain the higher payroll costs.
Council concerns and mayoral support
During an Oct. 26 administrative conference, council members raised questions about why police and fire personnel would receive raises months before other municipal workers. Councilman James Green argued that all city employees should be treated equally, saying, “If we found that fountain of money from the data centers and whatever, then we should look beyond putting a few in a bowl and then tell others to wait because they’ve got to go to the gas pump like everybody else. They got to go to the grocery store like everybody else.” Councilman Grayson Boucher also urged the administration to accelerate raises for the remaining staff, suggesting a year‑end timeline.
Mayor Tom Arceneaux echoed the council’s concerns and praised Dark for identifying the funding solution. The mayor’s administration subsequently moved the classified‑employee raise forward to December, aligning it with the police and fire increases.
Additional adjustments and next steps
Before the vote, Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor asked for clarification on recent changes to the compensation chart that resulted from a Human Resources Board meeting. Dark confirmed that two positions within the Water and Sewer Department were adjusted after the board identified charting errors. The administration agreed to provide the council with detailed pay‑level information before the upcoming budget meeting.
Both resolutions passed unanimously, reflecting broad council consensus on the importance of fairly compensating the city’s public‑safety officers while also addressing the broader workforce.
Impact on the community
The raises are expected to improve morale among city workers and help retain experienced police officers and firefighters, a critical factor for public safety in Shreveport. By leveraging revenue from new data‑center developments, the city demonstrates a proactive approach to using emerging economic growth to fund essential services without raising taxes.
Residents can anticipate the first paycheck with the new rates on Dec. 1 for classified staff and Jan. 1, 2027 for police and fire personnel. The city will continue to monitor data‑center revenue streams to ensure long‑term sustainability of the payroll enhancements.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
