Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District staff outlines 2026 personnel plan: 2.2% wage adjustment; net increase of three FTEs
Summary
Pueblo West staff presented a 2026 personnel overview showing a proposed 2.2% salary increase tied to regional CPI, a net addition of three full‑time equivalents (FTEs), and reallocation of several maintenance technicians between funds; temporary employee reclassification following a state unemployment audit is also driving budget changes.
District finance and human resources staff presented highlights of the 2026 personnel and budget plan during the Sept. 8 board meeting: a proposed 2.2% salary increase tied to Denver‑Aurora‑Lakewood CPI (staff noted Pueblo’s July CPI was 2.4%), a net personnel increase of three full‑time equivalent positions, and changes in how several maintenance staff positions are allocated across funds. Staff also briefed the board on temporary employee reclassification after a state unemployment audit.
Key items: The presenter reported 145 full‑time positions, one part‑time position and 21 seasonal positions (lifeguards) budgeted for 2026, and staff are tracking 37 temporary employees for reclassification. Specific position changes include adding a senior accountant in finance, eliminating a deputy fire chief and adding an EMS administration manager in fire, and adding a plant operator in wastewater plus a utilities maintenance supervisor in utilities through internal transfers.
State audit and temporary employees: Staff explained the district was selected for a Colorado Department of Labor unemployment audit covering 2023 payroll and contract labor. The state reviewed contract labor arrangements and concluded some workers previously classified as contractors should be reclassified as employees; staff said that will move expense lines from contract labor to salaries and will be reflected in the 2026 budget.
Board questions and fiscal effects: Directors asked about allocation of the two utilities maintenance technicians (to be split between water and wastewater) and the budgetary impact of added temporaries (health insurance, FICA/employer payroll shares). Staff said payroll burden (employer share of Social Security/Medicare and health care) will apply and that staff will provide fuller cost analyses as budget work continues.
Ending: Staff noted the personnel assumptions will be integrated into the 2026 budget documents and that additional detail on temporary reclassifications and total budget impacts will be provided as the budget process continues.
