Littleton, Colorado – The Littleton City Council has approved salary raises for the city manager, city attorney, and presiding municipal judge, marking another increase in their compensation just five months after their previous raises. The council has also made a significant change to the city’s performance evaluation cycle, aligning it with the calendar year instead of the summer.
Tracy Hooker, the Human Resources Director, explained that these recent raises were implemented to bridge the gap between the appointed members’ salary increases in 2023 and 2025. Previously, salary increases for appointed positions occurred during the summer, but now they will take effect annually in January.
The new timeline will apply to appointed staff members who report directly to the city council, including the city attorney, city manager, and presiding municipal judge. City documents reveal that the judge is evaluated for a salary raise every two years, while the city manager and attorney undergo annual evaluations.
City Attorney Reid Betzing’s salary has been increased by approximately 2.3%, amounting to a $5,624 raise, raising his total salary to $238,251.59. Betzing has held his position since July 2019. Similarly, City Manager Jim Becklenberg will receive a salary increase of $5,520, or about 2.3%, bringing his new salary to $245,520. Becklenberg was hired in July 2022.
Judge Loretta Huffine, who joined in October 2022, was also slated to be evaluated for a salary increase in October this year. However, with the change in the evaluation cycle, she will receive her raise now. Huffine’s salary will increase by about 2.3%, equating to $1,942.21, resulting in a total salary of $86,386.21. It is important to note that Huffine’s position is part-time, with additional hours compensated at a rate of $105 per hour.
These approved raises will retroactively affect the appointees’ paychecks dating back to January 15, 2024. Tracy Hooker clarified that this round of raises was not based on performance evaluations but rather on data and comparable positions in peer communities.
Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Barr emphasized the fairness and alignment of these adjustments with best practices for cities of similar size and population. He stated, “We do take the time to make sure that these adjustments — and when we are making them — are fair, but also in line with best practices for other cities.”
Tracy Hooker also mentioned that the city is reevaluating other aspects of the appointee evaluation process to ensure consistency. Additionally, the city plans to shift the salary increase cycle for other city staff members to align with the calendar year in the future.