Shreveport Mayor Pushes for Pay Raises for City Workers

The Mayor of Shreveport is proposing a pay increase for city workers. Tom Arceneaux is also asking the city council to approve an 8 million dollar package for public safety equipment. This 8 million would pay for 60 police cars, 4 medic units and a tanker truck for the fire department

READ MORE: 13% Pay Raise Given by Shreveport Is Unsustainable

What Is the Pay Increase Plan from Shreveport Mayor

Mayor Arceneaux is pitching a pay increase after listening to comments from the City Council during recent budget sessions. The Mayor's plan would impact all city workers. The plan includes: a 3% pay increase for Police and Fire civil service employees, effective April 1, 2026. Firefighters also get $600 a month in state supplemental pay.  Police officers get $120 a month in state supplemental pay. The Mayor also proposes doubling the uniform allowance for Police and Fire personnel — from $400 to $800

Pay Raise for other City Workers

Mayor Arceneaux is suggesting a 3% pay increase for all other City employees. He's also suggesting spending $500,000 on parity pay adjustments in several departments like SPAR, Solid Waste and Public Works.

All of these pay raises for city workers would go into effect on April 1.

A Different Plan Is Being Pushed for Councilman

But Councilman Gary Brooks is proposing a pay raise for only police officers. He’s asking the council to support a 10% increase to base pay. But he’s taking heat from firefighters who claim they have traditionally been given raises when police see an increase.

Mayor Arceneaux Responds to Brooks Proposal

While we applaud the intent of the proposal, we do not believe the city has the recurring funds to adopt this proposal. We also believe that any pay proposal should include all City employees, not just police. Respectfully, we believe that the proposal, even if it were to be adopted, dramatically underestimates its cost. A 10% pay increase for SPD officers would cost approximately $5.2 million, not the $3.189 million listed on the legislation’s fact sheet. To give an identical increase to Fire service members would cost another $4.8 million.

Plan for Equipment Upgrades in Shreveport

The Mayor is also asking the council to approve more investment in public safety equipment. Arceneaux is proposing financing $8.5 million in equipment. Under this plan, the city would by 60 new police cars, 4 new medic units and a tanker truck for the Fire Department. The city would also buy 8 new garbage trucks.