(The Center Square) - The Shreveport City Council unanimously approved pay raises for police and fire Tuesday after Mayor Tom Arceneaux announced his administration identified funding to move up a proposed 3% raise for other city employees.

Council members addressed concerns at Monday's administrative meeting regarding police and fire getting raises Dec. 1 while other employees would have to wait several months.

Arceneaux told council members Tuesday that the administration found a way to address those concerns.

"We are in agreement with you," Arceneaux said. "We found a way to do that. It will require a one-reader next time for you but we are in complete support of that effort."

Arceneaux said Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark found funding to make the earlier raises possible. However, the proposed adjustment for other city workers would require council approval.

"We would ask that you approve the police this time," Arceneaux said. "Approve that one next time and we'll be in good shape."

The council voted 7-0 to approve separate resolutions establishing new pay scales for police officers and firefighters, both set to go into effect Dec. 1.

Council members asked Dark for clarification on when employees could expect the increases to appear in their pay near the end of Tuesday's meeting.

Dark said the administration is planning two rounds of pay adjustments, one starting Dec. 1 and another Jan. 1.

Police officers and firefighters will receive their 6% increases Dec. 1 under the proposed schedule. Other city employees would receive their 3% raises on the same date if the council approves the measure.

Police and fire are set to receive another 2% raise on Jan. 1, with other city employees receiving additional pay increases to help bring their salaries in line with those of workers in similar positions.

Dark said employees would receive slightly larger raises in January because the increases would be based on their higher December salaries.

The change would also allow the other city employees to receive their 3% raises in December, three months earlier than the original March 1, 2027, date.

The council is expected to consider the proposed raises for other employees at its next meeting on Nov. 10.