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Warren council adopts 2025 budget with targeted raises, overtime increases and reclassifications
Summary
The City Council approved the mayor's recommended 2026 budget amendments and a set of council-led changes that raise select departmental salaries, add positions intended to reduce overtime, reclassify roles and assume $1.2M in projected marijuana permit revenue.
Council Secretary Mindy Moore and budget lead staff presented the council’s package of modifications to the mayor’s recommended budget and the council approved the amended budget in a recorded vote.
Moore summarized changes the council made after three budget hearings and a full-day session, saying the process combined targeted reductions with investments to address critical staffing gaps. "We conducted a thorough review of the budget, made targeted reductions where possible, and invested where necessary," she said.
Key council adjustments include higher wage caps for several department heads and reclassifications (controller and city attorney wage rate increases to $149,000; controller additions in payroll; increased library director search cap), added positions aimed at lowering overtime (a fire training officer, an EMS billing specialist, an accreditation manager in police), and increased overtime budget lines for fire ($1,400,000) and police ($1,500,000) to reflect current staffing realities. Moore and city controller Rick Fox told the council the increases respond to persistent overtime driven by understaffing, training mandates and daily absences.
The council also reallocated line items across departments (transferring payroll functions back to the controller’s office, moving some building maintenance roles and costs) and restored or removed specific DDA and capital requests after review. The council expects approximately $1,200,000 in new revenue from marijuana dispensary licensing fees to be incorporated into the general fund projections. Moore said an efficiency consultant at $50,000 was added to evaluate operations and recommend overtime reductions.
Several items require follow-up: the council reiterated a request to appoint a permanent city attorney (the city has operated more than a year without an appointed city attorney), and directed administration to pursue grants more aggressively. Council approved the final budget in a roll-call vote; the motion carried unanimously.
Ending: Council members praised staff work and signaled ongoing review of overtime and efficiency recommendations; departments were told to bring appropriation requests if unforeseen needs arise.
