PiPress: St. Paul chief says pay for top police brass isn't competitive

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry would earn more money by collecting his pension rather than his current salary, he told the Pioneer Press.

Why it matters: Henry doesn't want to retire, but says the pay for top St. Paul police and fire officials isn't keeping up with fast-rising salaries in other metro agencies.

• Henry, who took a pay cut when he accepted the promotion, makes $207,688 per year.

What we're watching: Last year, the city increased the pay range for police and fire brass by 9%.

• But officials are waiting to increase salaries until new union contracts are finalized. At that point, Henry would make at least $226,000.

Zoom out: That's still less than what Minneapolis chief Brian O'Hara makes ($312,703), and what a city-commissioned study suggested St. Paul should be paying (around $257,000).

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