Committee approves ordinance change to use June CPI for budget timing

The Ways and Means Committee voted to approve an adjustment to a city ordinance so staff could use the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) for internal budget modeling and compensation planning. City staff said using the June CPI—which is published in July—gives department heads timely data during the budget process. Staff explained the CPI-based adjustment is applied as a five-year average in the city’s labor model, and a single-month change will not materially alter the average. A committee member moved to approve the adjustment to the ordinance to accommodate the June CPI for budget timing; the motion passed by voice vote. Committee members said the change is intended to give staff more accurate data earlier in the budget cycle, and staff will note the use of the June CPI publicly when presenting budget materials. The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; the motion passed and will proceed to the Board of Aldermen for final action.