Great Falls Public Library Director Gets $11,809 Raise After Submitting Resignation

As I was reading through the meeting minutes from various City of Great Falls advisory and governing boards, I noticed that at its Tuesday, July 22, 2025, meeting, the Great Falls Public Library Board of Trustees voted 4–1 to give Library Director Susie McIntyre a salary raise of $11,809.

This action was taken after Ms. McIntyre submitted her letter of resignation in early July, stating that she would continue serving as Director through the transition period until December 27, 2025.

Since the library levy passed in 2023, Director McIntyre’s salary has increased by almost $17,000 per year. This includes the recent $11,809 increase approved by the board and an overall payroll adjustment following the passage of the levy, which amounted to approximately a $5,000 increase to the Director’s salary.

Whatever the reasons or justifications may be for increasing a public employee’s salary by nearly $12,000 a year after that employee has resigned, the public deserves to know.

Here is the section from the minutes where the raise is discussed and voted on:

“Ms. Crist moved that the Great Falls Public Library Board of Trustees follow the Great Falls Human Relations Department’s recommendation of a proposed grade change for the library director position from a 27 to a 29, and that we follow the PSPC’s (Public Sector Personnel Consultants) recommendation to increase the library director position by $11,809 in order to maintain the compared ratio within the new grade range for a total compensation of $127,020 annually; retroactive to July 1st, 2025. Ms. DeForest seconded the motion. Ms. Olson opened for any board discussion or public comment.

Ms. Crist added that one of the reasons we’re doing this is that we want the position to be competitive financially as we advertise for the position.

Ms. Johnson added that she be voting no because the recommendation from HR came in the end of April and we’re in a different position now after Ms. McIntyre’s letter of resignation.

Ms. DeForest added that she will be voting yes for many reasons, but also for Ms. McIntyre for being generous enough to give the library a six-month window for resignation.

Ms. Bulger added that she will be voting yes because Mc. McIntyre has earned the raise for all the work she has done over the year for the library.

Ms. Olson agreed with Ms. Bulger and stated that she will be voting yes as well. Ms. Olson added that it is important to note that these numbers came from a salary study that looked at the entire city and identified specific issues that needed to be corrected to be within the ranges that they identified. The board also looked at the compensations from other large libraries in our area, and a little bit outside of our area. The numbers came from consultants whose job it is to determine whether or not we’re in the right ranges and they made the recommendation.

Ms. Olson called for a vote. Motion passed 4-1. (Voting YES: Ms. Bulger, Ms. Crist, Ms. DeForest, Ms. Olson. Voting NO: Ms. Johnson)“