The Platteville Common Council approved May 10 a compensation plan for its nonunion employees that will mean $20,000 in raises in July, and future pay increases as city finances permit.

The compensation study from Carlsion Dettman Consulting LLC compared nonunion positions to market compensation rates, based on evaluation of job duties. The plan divides city hourly positions into seven classifications, with seven pay steps for the employee’s first through 10th year of city service, and a process to receive both base and step pay increases.

Future pay increases after July 1 will be dependent on the city’s “effective allocation of compensation dollars” so that the city “will advance its compensation purpose and principles without placing an unreasonable burden on Platteville citizens,” according to city documents.

The plan includes the possibility of merit increases for employees in positions exempt from overtime -— generally department heads and managers — who have completed 10 years of service with the city.

The compensation system was created to replace bargaining with city employee unions, which were largely eliminated after the state Legislature approved Act 10 in 2011. The pay plan does not include union employees or employees of the Platteville Public Library, which is governed by the Library Board.