FIRST ON 3: CFPUA tables vote on holiday bonuses for employees

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Recent decisions by Wilmington City Council and the Brunswick County School Board to hand out employee bonuses have upset many tax payers. The question of pay hikes during the down economy was up for debate again this morning; this time by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority.

“Employees are the key to success for any organization, but certainly for the success of the authority,” CFPUA CEO Matt Jordan said.

The CFPUA considered rewarding its employees with some extra cash. During a board meeting Wednesday, board members decided to table the decision, and wait for results from a class and compensation study that should be completed by the end of January.

“We’ve reduced positions. We have employees that have taken on increased responsibility, and that’s reflected in our efficiency,” Jordan said. “Every few years we want to make sure we have the proper balance, and that’s what that is all about.”

But with consistent rate increases and issues since the authority formed in 2008, some customers may see the bonuses as inappropriate. Jordan disagrees.

“Even though we did have 13- and 14-percent rate increases, because we’ve been able to hold down the operating side, those rate increases could have been larger, so they’ve helped to hold those rate increases down,” Jordan said.

Jordan says the board will discuss the proposal after the study is completed and after the start of the budget process in February.