The latest figures from the city of Sedona indicate that average budgeted staff compensation has risen to $112,156, while the number of employees making more than $100,000 increased in the past year from 20 to 24.

The big winners on city staff this past fiscal year were Director of Public Works Kurt Harris and Communications Manager Lauren Browne, both of whom took on added responsibilities and received raises of 29.4% and 18.4%, respectively.

The typical raise for senior staff during the year was between 7% and 8%, while Arizona’s minimum wage rose 3.6% in the same period. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real average hourly earnings nationally increased 1.1% from 2023 to 2024.

The FY24 budget authorized 181 full-time equivalent positions for a total of $12,796,060 in salaries and an additional $7,504,250 in benefits for a total of $20,300,310 in compensation paid for by tax dollars. Total budgeted compensation averaged $70,696 before benefits or $112,156 after benefits per FTE, with the latter figure representing an increase of $5,982, or 5.6%, from $106,174 in 2023.

The number of members of city staff making $100,000 or more per year rose to 24 from 20 in 2023 and 17 in 2022. These employees and their compensation rates [excluding benefits] are:

• Outgoing City Manager Karen Osburn: $193,986; 6% increase from 2023. Incoming City Manager Anette Spickard will be starting at $190,000.
• City Attorney Kurt Christianson: $164,550; 6% increase from 2023.
• Director of Financial Services Cherie White: $164,335; 7.1% increase.
• Deputy City Manager J. Andy Dickey: $155,147; 9.7% increase.
• Police Chief Stephanie Foley: $144,816; 7.1% increase.
• Director of Community Development Steve Mertes: $133,891; 6.6% increase.
• Magistrate Judge Paul Schlegel: $133,750; 7% increase.
• Director of Public Works Kurt Harris: $ 133,250; 29.4 % increase.
• Director of Wastewater Roxanne Holland: $128,140; 7.6% increase.
• Information Technology Manager Chuck Hardy: $127,419; 8.1% increase.
• Deputy Police Chief Ryan Kwitkin: $124,025; new hire in 2023.
• Assistant Director of Public Works Sandra Phillips: $123,403; 7.6% increase.
• Human Resources Manager Russ Martin: $121,000; new hire in 2023.
• Criminal Prosecutor William Kunisch: $120,443; 6.6% increase.
• Transit Administrator Robert Weber: $119,303; $110,850; 7.6% increase.
• Communications and Tourism Director Lauren Browne: $109,950; 18.4% increase.
• GIS Analyst, unspecified staff: $109,798; 7.6% increase.
• Network Engineer, unspecified staff: $109,798; 7% increase.
• System Administrator, unspecified staff: $109,798; 7% increase.
• Planning Manager Cari Meyer: $105,874; 7.1% increase.*
• Police Lt. Raquel Oliver: $105,000; new hire in 2023.
• Housing Manager Shannon Boone: $104,499; 7.1% increase.
• Engineering Supervisor John Hall: $103,000, no change.
• Chief Building Official Dave Zellner: $100,000; new position.

In addition, 15 city staffers are paid at rates greater than $80,000 per year, including Principal Planner Cynthia Lovely* at $97,251, Procurement Officer Ian Coubrough at $95,000, Sustainability Manager Bryce Beck at $92,250, Accounting Manager Renee Stanley at $91,535, City Clerk JoAnne Cook at $91,503, Maintenance Manager Ryan Hayes at $87,945, Web Content Manager Rob MacMullen at $83,537, Chief Engineering Inspector Sal Valenzuela at $80,704, two associate engineers at $87,970 and $93,116, five police sergeants at between $90,958 and $97,011, and a police officer at $82,555.

The 24 staffers who earn $100,000 or more account for 24% of the city’s budgeted pre-benefits wages bill and the 15 staffers who earn between $80,000 and $100,000 account for an additional 11.4%.

Excluding the 24 positions that make more than $100,000, the city of Sedona’s average hourly wage for fulltime positions is $30.70, an increase of 8.9% from 2023. This works out to $63,856 before benefits, which include full health, dental and vision coverage, health care for dependents, and retirement contributions. Including all 149 current full-time positions, average hourly compensation before benefits is $35.66. Average pay for part-time and temporary positions is $24.83.

Arizona’s minimum wage is $14.35 per hour. Sedona’s median individual income is $33,284 and median household income is $58,901.

Staff Growth

As of March 2024, the city employed 149 full-time staff, an increase from 141 in March 2023, or 5.7%, and 40 part-time or temporary staff, an increase from 26 in March 2023, or 54%.

*Editor’s note: The print edition of this story switched the names of Cari Meyer and Cynthia Lovely. Meyer is planning manager and earns $105,874; Lovely is principal planner and earns $97,251.