The Hammond City Council will discuss and adopt the city’s Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget tomorrow.
Officials with the City of Hammond say the town has done well financially during COVID. In addition to taking in more sales tax dollars than expected, the city has federal funds that are earmarked for some much-needed capital improvements, including improvements and repairs to the city’s aging sewerage system.
City Councilwoman Carlee Gonzales says Hammond police officers need a raise. She says the starting salary for a police officer is $29,331 annually or $14.10 an hour. Recent pay raises in neighboring parishes and municipalities have brought this issue to the forefront. She says the city is not competitive, and in fact, near the bottom when compared to many parishes and municipalities smaller and larger than Hammond. The councilwoman has proposed to add $600,000 into this year’s budget for HPD pay raises. She says otherwise the city will keep losing great officers and continue to be passed over by potential hires.
