Two Potential City Communications Positions Could Carry Six-Figure Annual Salary Cost
Two possible communications-related positions discussed by the City of Salina could represent a combined six-figure annual salary expense, although records provided to Salina311 do not establish the exact titles or total cost of both positions.
Salina311 requested records after City Manager Jacob Wood referenced two currently unfilled positions during a City Commission discussion involving Commissioner Gary Norris.
One position identified in the records is a Communications/Media Manager within the City Manager’s Office. The city’s 2027 classified pay plan places that position at Grade 110, with an annual salary range of $56,940 to $91,106.
If two positions were ultimately staffed at that same Grade 110 range, the combined base salaries would range from approximately $113,880 to $182,212 per year.
That calculation does not include health insurance, retirement contributions, payroll taxes or other employee benefits, meaning the total annual cost to the city would be higher.
The records provided by the city do not identify the second vacant position referenced during the commission discussion or confirm that both positions would be Communications/Media Manager positions.
The 2027 pay plan does include several other communications-related classifications, including Community Relations Specialist, Multimedia Specialist, Multimedia Coordinator, Communications Supervisor and Community Relations Supervisor. Those positions carry different salary ranges, so the exact combined cost of the two vacancies cannot be determined from the records provided.
The Communications/Media Manager position would serve as the city’s principal media contact and spokesperson, oversee communications across multiple platforms, advise city leadership on public messaging and manage open-records requests. The position would also have direct oversight of division staff.
The records provided to Salina311 did not include an annual operating budget for a communications department or a projection for benefits and other personnel expenses.
As a result, the final cost to the city would depend on which two positions are ultimately filled, where the employees fall within their respective salary ranges and the additional cost of benefits.
