District staff outline 2026 personnel plan, project 2.2% wage increase and three new FTEs

Karen, a district staff member, told the Pueblo West Metro District Board of Directors at a Sept. work session that salary planning for 2026 is underway and that staff recommend a 2.2% general salary increase. “Salary increases for 2026 are based on the Denver, Aurora, Lakewood consumer price index. We're looking at a 2.2% increase projected for 2026,” she said.

The presentation listed personnel changes by department. Staff proposed three net new full‑time equivalents (FTE) for 2026, bringing the district’s total to 145 full‑time positions and one part‑time seasonal position (lifeguards). Karen said the utility/water/wastewater group will add a plant operator and that two utilities maintenance technicians will be transferred from operational services, with one maintenance post eliminated. She also said the parks department will absorb a set of roles reclassified after a state unemployment audit.

The audit by the State Unemployment Department found that many people previously engaged as contract labor—primarily referees, dance instructors and preschool staff in parks and recreation—should be classified as employees. Karen said those positions will be added as temporary employees and paid through payroll rather than as contractors. “We provided them a t shirt. We told them when to come to work. We provided some training,” she said when asked why the state reached that conclusion. She added, “I think we're gonna call them temporary employees.”

Legal and payroll implications were discussed. Karen told the board that converting those workers will increase payroll processing costs and shift workload to human resources. She said temporary employees will be hourly and not eligible for retirement, although they will receive required withholdings such as Social Security and Medicare.

Board members pressed staff on cost distribution and equity. Director Roberts asked whether the 2.2% increase was appropriate for the district and suggested the board look at a CPI that better reflects Pueblo’s region. Roberts said employees in higher pay bands will receive larger dollar increases under a percentage raise and asked to see amounts rather than percentages for upper management compared with lower wages. Staff said they will examine other CPI alternatives, including indices that better reflect Pueblo County, and provide additional analysis.

Staff reminded the board of the 2026 budget schedule: the proposed budget must be presented by Oct. 15 and adopted by Dec. 15, with public hearings during the review period. Karen said job descriptions and the “manning list” (the detailed staffing table for 2025 and proposed 2026 changes) are included in the budget packet and can be provided to board members who want position descriptions.

The board also asked for figures showing how many temporary/seasonal workers (Karen said about 37) could be affected by the reclassification and for a detailed cost analysis before the October budget presentation. No formal board action on the budget was taken in the work session; staff said they will present the personnel sections as part of the proposed budget on Oct. 15.

Ending: Staff will return to the board with a revised cost analysis that compares alternative regional CPI indexes, the fiscal impact of converting contract workers to payroll, position descriptions for new/full‑time posts, and the itemized manning list to accompany the Oct. 15 proposed budget presentation.