HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7182 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7082
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
?-E JXP, Subject: BILINGUAL PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS
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The 1986-87 Police Department budget included $50,000 for Police bilingual assignment pay.
An M & C, an ordinance, and a personnel policy will be presented to City Council at the Monday,
April 27, 1987 meeting. It will authorize the Police Chief to designate sworn police officers
and certain civilians in the Police Department to positions which require the use of bilingual
skills and recommend that sworn police officers who perform these designated positions or beats
as outlined in the amendment to the ordinance and the proposed personnel policy be paid
assignment pay in the amount of $25.00 per month in addition to their regular pay.
Assignment pay is in an amount and is payable under conditions as set by ordinance, and is in
addition to the police officers or .fire fighters' base pay. The Police and Fire Civil Service Act
(Article 1269m, Vernon's Annotated Civil Service Statutes of Texas) was revised in 1983 to
permit cities to authorize assignment pay for police officers and fire fighters performing
specialized functions in their respective departments. 1269m allows for the adoption of an
ordinance which may set criteria that provides for payment of assignment pay only to a police
officer or fire fighter in a special assignment.
Paying incentive pay or assignment pay to employees who are required to be orally proficient
in and use their bilingual skills is a relatively new concept in Texas. This type of pay practice
has been used in California for several years. In Texas, "assignment pay" for bilingual skills
is being paid by seven cities including Houston and Dallas. In Dallas, all employees are eligible
for such pay.
We believe such assignment pay recognizes these employees for specialized skills that they
are being required to use more and more in the performance of their duties. Employees serving
in positions designated as requiring proficiency in Spanish (which is the predominant second
language being used in Fort Worth) will be able to communicate with the increasing number
of Hispanic residents of Fort Worth in their native language. This will insure information is
transmitted correctly and the rights of the individual are protected. In emergency situations
especially, the availability of a bilingual employee is of considerable value.
During 1986-87 Council budget discussions, Councilman Bagsby suggested that the bilingual
pay policy should be city-wide and not just for police officers. The Personnel Department is
currently reviewing this possibility and will bring forward for the City Council's consideration
a decision package extending bilingual pay to employees in other city departments.
If additional information is desired, it will be provided upon request.
ouglas Harman
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WnPTIJ -rr-A-