Two Shenandoah department heads are set to receive substantial salary increases in the upcoming fiscal year after the Shenandoah City Council unanimously approved staff wages and rates for FY 2026 during its Tuesday night meeting.
The council approved across-the-board salaries for full- and part-time city employees effective July 1, but not without discussion. Councilman Richard Jones questioned the 33% salary boosts granted to Water Superintendent Tim Martin and Wastewater Superintendent Tom Foutch.
City Administrator A.J. Lyman explained that the pay raises stemmed from a new approach the city used this year, comparing not just the size of municipalities but also the ratings and complexity of water and wastewater plants.
Based on those plant ratings, Lyman says both Martin and Foutch were being paid significantly below average for operators overseeing systems of similar scope and complexity.
He emphasized that the decision also reflects growing difficulties in retaining certified operators, particularly those with level 4 certification for water and level 3 for wastewater.
Rather than apply incremental increases over time, Lyman said city officials opted for a single adjustment to help the superintendents catch up to industry standards and keep pace with cost-of-living pressures.
A complete listing of staff salaries and wages for FY 2026 is available for public review at Shenandoah City Hall.