Alexandria council reviews FY26 pay, benefits and staffing proposals amid 12% vacancy rate

Deputy City Manager Alethea Purdeau told the Alexandria City Council at its third budget work session that staff would “review programs and initiatives, carried out, or recommended in the f y 26 proposed budget” with a focus on maintaining services and addressing personnel needs.

The proposed FY26 spending plan prioritizes employee attraction and retention. Chief Human Resources Officer Alyssa Williamson said the budget includes $2,400,000 for step increases for nonbargained employees and $1,800,000 for step increases called for under bargaining contracts. Staff also propose a 1% cost‑of‑living adjustment for nonbargained employees tied to roughly $2,300,000 and $2,100,000 toward negotiated pay‑scale adjustments for bargained employees.

The budget reflects rising health‑insurance costs, Williamson said: UnitedHealthcare premiums are expected to rise “just incrementally by about half a percentage point,” while Kaiser premiums are expected to increase by “about 7%.” Councilmembers pressed staff on why Kaiser’s increase is higher; Williamson and Purdeau pointed to claims usage within the city workforce and differences…