As salaries of St. Paul city leaders stagnate, concern grows over losing talent

St. Paul's Police Chief Slams Three-Year Pay Cut as Talent Flight Takes Off

For nearly three years, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has been trying to address the issue of stagnant salaries for city leaders, but progress has been slow. The current police chief, Axel Henry, is one of two top officials who have taken a pay cut since taking their jobs – both will bring in more money from pensions than their current salary.

Henry's criticism comes as the city faces significant fiscal pressures, including a $7.5 million lawsuit settlement and potential federal funding cuts. Despite the challenges, Carter has not moved up salaries for department heads within new ranges introduced last year, which increased by 9% to account for performance pay increases negotiated with unions.

"We're paying to come to work now," Henry said. "I will not and do not want to abandon my leadership position. I take it very seriously, but I also have to make sure that we get this pay problem fixed."

The lack of raises has led to a talent flight as top staff in the police and fire departments – excluding Henry and his colleague Fire Chief Butch Inks – consider unionizing. The issue is not unique to these departments; non-union managers are also feeling the pinch.

"St. Paul has the second biggest population, yet our chief makes $100,000 less than the chief in Minneapolis," wrote businessman Jim Kelly in an email to Carter. "I've been endorsed by other business owners who share my concerns about compensation and recruiting/retaining talent."

The city's proposed budget for next year includes pay raises, but not the 9% increases that were calculated for department leaders. The market study of St. Paul wages, which was completed in September, has provided valuable insights for determining more competitive salaries.

"We've been trying to push up the pay of our frontline workers, which creates a wage compression challenge," Carter said. "If we don't level up our salary scale commensurate with their experience, then we risk losing those folks to other departments who haven't invested in them."

As the city grapples with the issue, some are sounding the alarm. City Council President Rebecca Noecker has expressed concerns about compensation and expects the market study will be shared with the council.

Meanwhile, Eagan has tapped a well-respected St. Paul police commander to be its next police chief – Salim Omari – citing his expertise and commitment to reducing crime in downtown St. Paul.

I think it's crazy that top cops like Axel Henry are getting hit with pay cuts just as they're about to retire! They've been working hard for the city, and now they're basically being told "you know what? You can either take less money or leave". That's not exactly the kind of motivation you want from your leaders. And it's not like this is an isolated issue - other departments are feeling the pinch too! I think the city needs to step up its game and offer better pay scales if they want to keep their top talent on board.

I think its crazy that they're paying cops to show up, lol . I mean, come on Axel is literally saying we're not getting paid enough to lead the department, but it's not like he's losing money or anything, he's still gonna get a sweet pension after this . The city's got some major issues going on and they're still worried about giving their top cops a raise . It's like the mayor is trying to solve one problem with another, it just seems so backwards . We need to prioritize our public servants and give them fair pay for their hard work .

The pay cut is a big deal ! I feel bad for Axel Henry, he's got a point - we're already getting paid enough , but still, it's about the principle . The talent flight is real , non-union managers are feeling it too . 100k less than Minneapolis ? That's like, totally not fair . St. Paul needs to get its act together and give those department heads a raise ASAP!

im not sure how much sense it makes for city leaders like Axel Henry to make a big deal about pay cuts. i mean, $100k less than the chief in minneapolis? that's still a pretty decent salary if you ask me . and isn't the real issue here that they're not giving raises to frontline workers? i feel like we're getting more concerned about the top people making less money rather than making sure everyone gets a fair shake.

and what's with all the talk about talent flight? aren't there plenty of other places in mn that are offering better pay and benefits for law enforcement jobs? maybe it's time to stop playing the salary game and start focusing on actual solutions to the problems we're facing .

idk why the mayor's so slow on this one the pay cuts for top officials just got worse, now they're gonna make up for it with pensions and still the city's struggling its like they expect people to just magically stay in their jobs without getting paid decently and dont even get me started on the whole "wage compression" thing - sounds like a fancy way of saying "we cant afford to pay our frontline workers what they deserve"

Can't believe our city leaders are still struggling to pay themselves decent wages Axel Henry's right, though - it's not like they're risking their health or anything... just a leadership position . And omg, $100k less than Minneapolis? That's just low-key theft . It's no wonder top staff are jumping ship (literally) to Eagan. Who wouldn't want to leave St. Paul for better pay and fewer drama?

The fact that top officials like Axel Henry are taking pay cuts but still bring in more from pensions is wild, tbh I just checked the numbers, and did you know that since 2020, the average salary for police officers in MN has increased by only 2.5% while inflation has been around 15% ? That's a major talent flight problem right there! The city needs to get its act together and invest in its employees ASAP or risk losing even more top talent to other departments

I feel for Axel Henry, he's got a point about needing to maintain leadership integrity while the city struggles with finances . But it's not just him, I think we need more transparency on why these pay cuts were made and how they'll be reversed. It seems like a lot of people are losing faith in the system...the whole talent flight thing is a major concern . Maybe the market study can help, but we also need to prioritize our frontline workers who are already struggling. If St. Paul wants to compete with bigger cities for top talent, it needs to step up its game . And what's with the Eagan poaching Axel? Doesn't that just rub salt in the wound ?

I'm totally with Axel Henry on this one. I mean, come on, he's basically getting paid less than the chief in Minneapolis! The idea that top staff are considering unionizing because they're not being fairly compensated is just frustrating. I get that there are fiscal pressures and all, but you can't put a price on talent, right? The market study is a great start, but it's about time someone took action to level up those salaries. I'm all for competitive wages and benefits to attract the best and brightest (or in this case, the most skilled cops). We need more people like Axel Henry who aren't afraid to speak truth to power and advocate for what's right, even if it means taking a pay cut themselves.

I think the city is missing the point here. The police chief and other top officials are making bank, but frontline workers who actually need the raise to make ends meet are struggling. It's like, why should they sacrifice their future for the sake of a few executives? And what about all those young officers leaving for better-paying jobs elsewhere? We need to prioritize our people, not just give them lip service about "recruiting and retaining talent".

I'm really surprised that the police chief is speaking out about this pay cut issue . I think it's awesome that he's taking a stand for what's fair, especially considering the talent flight happening right now . It's not just the police department either, I've heard from friends who work in other departments and they're feeling the squeeze too .

I don't get why the mayor can't just give his top officials a raise . The numbers just don't add up - it's like he's trying to solve a puzzle with one piece missing . I hope he looks at that market study report and uses it to make some real changes for the city . The frontline workers deserve better too, they're the ones who are often seen but never heard .

This whole situation is really making me think about how important it is for cities like St. Paul to invest in their employees . I mean, if you can't attract and retain top talent, how do you expect them to solve problems and make a difference?

I feel for Axel Henry, you know? He's just trying to do what's right as the police chief of St. Paul, but it's tough when the city's not willing to pay him a fair wage. I mean, 9% raises might seem like a lot, but when you're already underpaid compared to other cities, it's hard to see why that would be enough. And with talent flight being such a huge issue, it's like Carter's got his hands tied. I wish the city would just give them a fair shot and not worry about the lawsuit settlement or federal funding cuts right now. It's all well and good for Eagan to snatch up their next police chief, but what about St. Paul?

This whole thing is so whack! The city's tryin' to fix the pay issue, but they're goin' about it all wrong. They need to just give those department heads a real raise and be done with it. I mean, $100k less than the Minneapolis chief? That's just basic math, Melvin Carter! You can't expect people to stay in their jobs if they ain't gettin' paid right. And now, all these top staff are talkin' about unionizin'? It's like, good for 'em, I guess. They deserve to be treated fairly. The city needs to step up and show they care about their employees. This whole "we're payin' to come to work" vibe? That's just not true no more.

OMG I'm literally SO frustrated about this St. Paul's police department is getting ravaged by talent flight due to the stagnant salaries Like, how can you expect top staff to stay when they know they're not being fairly compensated?! It's like they're paying people to come to work now lol but seriously Axel Henry is right we're already giving them a decent pension so why should their salary be cut?! The market study showed that St. Paul wages are pretty low compared to other cities and I don't get how the city council can just ignore that It's like they're putting all the pressure on frontline workers to make up for it instead of addressing the bigger issue which is the lack of competitiveness in salaries We need some serious change here or else we'll be losing more good people to other departments who actually value their employees

Ugh, can't believe what's goin' on in St. Paul ! They're slashin' pay for the top cops and it's like, why are they expectin' 'em to come back after doin' their job? I mean, I get it, the city's broke, but 9% raises ain't gonna fix nothin' if you're strugglin' to make ends meet. Talent flight is real, man - those top cops are jumpin' ship for better pay and benefits. It's like Carter's all talk and no action . We need to be competitive here or we'll be gettin' left behind in the dust.

I'm still thinking about that pay cut talk... I mean, how can you not give raises to top officials when the city is struggling? It's like they're paying people to leave! The talent flight thing is real, my friend. I know someone who left a good job in St. Paul because of low pay. They went to Eagan and now they're getting paid way more. Meanwhile, our chief here is making less than the one in Minneapolis? No thanks! I'm not surprised that business owners like Jim Kelly are speaking out about this. We need to invest in our people if we want to keep them from leaving. And what's with the wage compression challenge? It just sounds like they're trying to balance the books instead of being fair to their employees.

The pay cuts for top city officials are like, totally out of whack, you know? I mean, Axel Henry's getting paid to work now, which is kinda the opposite of what he's saying - that leaders shouldn't have to feel like they're being paid to come to work. And it's not just him, Fire Chief Butch Inks is taking a pay cut too... it's like, hello, someone needs to be the CEO around here! St. Paul's population is second biggest in the state, and yet their top cop is making $100k less than Minneapolis' chief? That's just not right, fam. It's time for the city to level up on those salaries and stop losing talent. And I'm low-key loving that Eagan snatched Salim Omari from St. Paul - he sounds like a total boss!

This pay cut is like, what's the point? Axel Henry is saying he'll keep doing his job even if it means less money, but I don't blame him for speaking up about this...

I mean, $100,000 is a big gap between St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Jim Kelly's right to point that out. The city needs to figure out how to pay its leaders more so they can keep their top talent from leaving. It's not just police and fire chiefs; other departments are feeling the pinch too.

Carter's trying to balance budget cuts with raises for frontline workers, but it sounds like a tough spot to be in. If they don't level up salaries, they risk losing good people to other cities that offer more competitive pay...

I feel so bad for Axel Henry, the St. Paul Police Chief, he's been trying to do his job for years but getting paid to come to work isn't exactly motivating him . And it's not just him, the whole city is dealing with a talent flight issue - top staff are leaving because they're not being fairly compensated .

I mean, who wouldn't want to leave a job where you're not earning what others in similar positions are making? It's like St. Paul is saying "we'll pay you less, but we'll give you benefits" . And don't even get me started on the $7.5 million lawsuit settlement and potential federal funding cuts - that's just a bunch of added pressure .

The city needs to take a hard look at their budget and see where they can make some adjustments. Maybe it's time to rethink those 9% pay increases for department leaders . And yeah, let's be real, $100,000 less than the chief in Minneapolis is a pretty big deal .

I'm all for pushing up salaries for frontline workers, but if you're not going to do that, at least level up your salary scale so people don't feel like they're being taken advantage of . It's time for St. Paul to get its act together and start treating their top staff with the respect and compensation they deserve !