UPDATE: Watertown city employees will see pay raises in 2023 (Audio)

January 17, 2023
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Many city of Watertown employees will see a bigger paycheck this year.

On Tuesday night, the city council approved salaries for union and non-union employees. It was a mere formality, and an issue that generated very little comment from the council.

City Manager Amanda Mack says when you add it all up, some of the employees are getting a seven-percent pay raise……

Mack, who was hired as city manager in May 2021, is the highest paid city employee at just over $160,000 a year.

Other employees earning salaries in excess of $100,000 this year include the public works director, assistant city engineer, solid waste superintendent, fire chief, assistant fire chief, police chief, assistant police chief and director of parks and recreation.

Mayor Ried Holien, who’s technically a part-time city employee, will earn just over $38,000.

The salaries are arrived at using what’s known as a wage matrix and a pay grade for each individual position.