Tuscaloosa city leaders are debating a substantial pay raise for the newly re‑created Executive Director of Public Safety. The Administration and Policy Committee heard the proposal Tuesday, which would lift the salary ceiling for the position to more than $267,000, potentially making it the highest‑paid role in city government.
Overtime elimination drives the change
Effective October 1, a new state law (House Bill 160) strips overtime eligibility from the Executive Director of Public Safety. Sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R‑Northport, the bill amends two local acts dating back to the 1980s to prohibit overtime pay or compensatory leave for the role.
Mayor William “Maddox” said the Grade PF8 pay scale must be rebuilt so the loss of overtime does not become a pay cut. “We looked at what the police chief and fire chief normally make, including overtime. The council did not want this position to have overtime or comp time, so we are updating the salary grade to ensure the current director does not lose money,” he explained.
Proposed salary structure
Under the November 2025 pay schedule, Grade PF8 starts at $144,206.20 and tops out at $203,759.59. The August 2026 proposal would shift PF8 to a range of $189,015.91 to $267,074.53, surpassing the ceiling for police and fire chiefs at every step.
Current director Blankley would see his base salary rise by roughly $50,000, bringing it to $230,298, with the potential to exceed $250,000 as he climbs the steps.
Council reaction and timeline
Committee chair John Faile, a former Tuscaloosa Police Captain, noted that other Alabama cities pay their public safety directors less than $200,000 and expects public comment. “[Blankley] is doing a great job, I don’t doubt that,” Faile said, adding that the council will likely hear from residents.
Mayor Maddox defended the raise by citing the scale of events the city secures under Blankley’s leadership, including 51 events last year with over 1,000 attendees and an upcoming gathering of 125,000 people within three city blocks.
Councilman Joe Eatmon urged the council to move the matter quickly, proposing that the full council vote on the salary change as soon as it reaches the Public Safety Committee. He expressed full support, noting the city anticipated this adjustment once the state law passed.
Next steps
The committee voted to forward the proposal to a September 22 public‑safety committee meeting. After Labor Day, the council will reconvene and may place the salary change on the full‑council agenda before the October 1 law takes effect.
Residents who wish to comment should monitor upcoming council meetings and public‑safety committee hearings.
Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.
