Oak Ridge Today

Council raises city manager pay, extends contract

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Council gave City Manager Mark Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise Monday and extended his contract by two years.

Council had been expected to consider a proposal, developed after committee and Council meetings, to have the city reimburse Watson for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee. But Watson had withdrawn that request after a public outcry.

Council rejected a proposal by Council member Anne Garcia Garland to remove a provision that would pay Watson a cash equivalent for accrued emergency leave as part of his severance package.

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City manager withdraws tuition reimbursement request

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has withdrawn a request to have the city reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

The tuition reimbursement proposal was expected to be considered at tonight’s City Council meeting. That’s when Council members will also consider whether to give Watson a 1.5 percent pay raise and a two-year contract extension.

The tuition reimbursement proposal had generated opposition. One of the primary concerns appeared to be that other city employees were not eligible.

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Guest column: Tempest over city manager tuition request

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Monday evening’s City Council agenda has drawn a lot more attention from media and citizens than usual—likely a result of the agenda having been published almost a week earlier than usual.

The item drawing the most attention (from the News Sentinel, Oak Ridge Today, the Observer, and the Oak Ridger, as well as a lot of negative comment from citizens)—whether to reimburse City Manager Mark Watson’s tuition for his Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee—came a surprise to me because it had been only lightly discussed by the Council committee that considered the city manager’s performance evaluation—and we had not voted on it, much less made a recommendation to the full Council.

Because of the number of questions and comments I’ve gotten on this item, I’m presenting my viewpoint on the tuition tempest here for everyone’s benefit.

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Oak Ridge city manager asks for tuition reimbursement

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has asked the city to reimburse him for tuition and textbooks as he pursues a doctorate at the University of Tennessee.

In exchange, Watson would have to earn at least a “B” average and continue working for the city for three years after he finishes his classwork. If he leaves before then, he would have to repay the city.

Watson is studying political science, with a concentration in public administration.

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Oak Ridge proposes no-tax-increase budget

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Mark Watson Budget Preview

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, center, presents budget highlights to City Council during a Monday night meeting. Also pictured, from left, are Oak Ridge City Clerk Diana Stanley, City Attorney Ken Krushenski (partially obscured), and Finance Director Janice McGinnis.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has proposed a budget for the next fiscal year that does not include a property tax rate increase.

However, the budget, which is similar to last year’s, does include a 1.5 percent “pay adjustment” for municipal employees.

“This is not a rocket science budget,” Watson said. “This is just a matter of what we can afford.”

The property tax rate would stay at $2.39 per $100 of assessed value in the fiscal year that begins July 1 if City Council approves the budget on first and second reading later this month.

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