AUGUSTA — City councilors approved a new three-year contract for City Manager William Bridgeo on Thursday.

The deal will provide Bridgeo with a 2 percent pay raise this year, increasing his salary to about $117,000 a year.

The 2 percent raise is consistent with raises given to both union and other non-union city employees this year, officials said.

Bridgeo’s current three-year contract expires next year, but provided for renewal if both he and the city agree to do so after the first two years.

Mayor David Rollins said retaining Bridgeo at that salary is an exceptional value for the city.

“To replace (Bridgeo) with somebody new, you’d be paying about the same without his institutional experience and memory,” Rollins said. “Hiring him at this salary with 17 years’ experience is a steal for the city.”

Other current Maine city manager salaries, according to information compiled by Bridgeo, include Auburn, $99,000; Bangor, $128,000; Brunswick, $112,000; Lewiston, $119,500; Saco, $121,500; Scarborough, $119,500; South Portland, $123,100; and Waterville, $115,600.

Ward 3 Councilor Patrick Paradis, joking that he looked forward to being able to continue bothering Bridgeo daily, said the city and his ward have made great strides during Bridgeo’s time as manager.

“Bill takes real pride in the city he works for,” Paradis said. “He is informed and continuing his efforts toward knowing every nook and cranny of the city. On behalf of Ward 3 residents, I support this enthusiastically.”

If Bridgeo fulfills all three years of the new contract, he will have been Augusta’s manager for 20 years. He said he hopes to work for the city until his retirement.

The average tenure of a city manager in one job is about seven years, according to International City/County Management Association data from 2012.

Rollins said 20 years in one city is extremely unusual for a manager and a credit to Bridgeo and his work.

Eric Conrad, director of communication and educational services for Maine Municipal Association, said 20 years is a fairly long tenure for a city manager in Maine, though there are a few others who’ve remained with one municipality that long.

“It is a difficult job, no question,” Conrad said in an email. “First, obviously, you have to manage a lot of people and a large budget. You have to walk the line between the city’s tax rate and providing quality municipal services, which cost money to provide. Lately, the state budget situation has made setting municipal budgets extremely challenging from year to year. It’s difficult, and Bill is widely respected as a leader among his peers.”

Bridgeo, a resident of the city, said if he has been successful, it is because he has a “wonderful team” around him and strong leadership on the council. He praised city department heads, other workers and city councilors for allowing him to hire quality workers based on their abilities, not political connections.

“Thank you for the opportunity to continue in this job,” he said. “I do love this job and love this community.”

Contract provisions in which the city agrees to provide Bridgeo with a “late model, four-wheel-drive vehicle” for both business use and his exclusive and personal use remain unchanged from the previous contract. Those terms specify that if Bridgeo uses the vehicle for personal reasons outside of Kennebec County, he is to reimburse the city at the current IRS mileage rate.

After the first year of the contract, Bridgeo would get the same cost-of-living raises other non-union city employees get, if they are granted, in his contract’s second and third years.

No members of the public spoke for or against the contract, or any other item on Thursday’s council agenda.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

[email protected]

Twitter: @kedwardskj