Political squabbling and an in-house legal dispute halted the rollout Tuesday of a 2.5% pay raise for all city employees in Mobile.
The City Council, in an unanimous vote, endorsed the pay hike for approximately 2,000 merit system employees, such as police officers and firefighters, effective immediately. The increased excluded 59 non-merit “Section 40” or contractual employees.
But moments after the council’s vote, Mayor Sandy Stimpson held a news conference outside his office to announce that all pay raises were being rescinded for the time being.
“Until we can figure out how to get everyone included, there will not be a raise,” Stimpson said.