Council approves interim treasurer salary adjustments amid debate over tax-collection costs

The Sunbury City Council approved technical adjustments to salaries in the treasurer’s office for interim appointees and began a broader discussion about the city’s tax-collection costs and departmental structure ahead of the 2026 budget process.

Council members moved to set interim compensation for newly appointed personnel in the treasurer’s office and to implement a 2% wage adjustment recommended in prior negotiations for certain positions effective Jan. 1, 2026. Council discussion focused heavily on whether the combined county, school and city payments for tax collection amounted to higher costs than comparable municipalities and whether the tax-collection structure should be revisited during the budget cycle.

One council member said the city may be "paying double, if not triple" what other municipalities pay for tax collection and urged a review; other council members responded that the current salaries reflect past negotiations and that changes to the county and school portions may be constrained. The council agreed to start 2026 budget discussions at the first August work session and to revisit departmental structure during budget deliberations.

The motions authorizing interim salary adjustments were presented as limited-term and subject to future budget negotiation. No layoffs or immediate restructuring were adopted; the council emphasized that any broader restructuring would be addressed in the upcoming budget process.