Tuscaloosa’s public safety director could get nearly $50k raise under proposal

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - Tuscaloosa’s executive director of public safety could receive a raise of nearly $50,000 under a new proposal, a move that could make him the highest-paid employee in city government.

Brent Blankley currently makes just over $184,000 a year. Under the new plan, his salary would climb to more than $230,000.

Mayor Walt Maddox appointed Blankley, the former police chief, to be executive director of public safety in January.

Blankley currently qualifies for overtime, but a new state law taking effect in October would make his position exempt.

Committee discusses proposal

During an administration committee meeting this week, Chairman John Faile and Maddox went back and forth over the raise proposal.

“I don’t want to go into personalities. He’s doing a great job. I don’t doubt that. I just know we’re going to hear from the public about this, mayor. You know we are,” Faile said.

“I understand, but last year we had 51 events that had more than 1,000 people that TPD and Fire and Rescue were directly responsible for providing security for. This weekend, we will have 125,000 people within three city blocks that we will be responsible for that security, and ultimately falls on the shoulders of the executive director of public safety,” Maddox said.

Maddox said the proposal raises Blankley’s pay grade, so he does not lose money when overtime goes away and can earn more than the two chiefs he supervises.

The proposal now goes to the public safety committee in two weeks.

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