Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Board signals support for 4% COLA/2% merit split, debates communications hire and budget timing
Summary
During a budget work session commissioners backed a straw‑poll preference to split a 6% total pay increase as a 4% cost‑of‑living increase and 2% merit pool; staff and commissioners also discussed a part‑time communications role, police vacancies (about 13), and midyear performance bonus options.
A budget work session produced a straw‑poll consensus in favor of allocating a 6% total salary pool as a 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) and a 2% merit pool rather than a 3%/3% split, though no final budget vote was taken.
Supporters said the 4/2 split increases base and starting salaries — helping recruitment — while retaining a smaller merit pool to reward high performers. “That extra percent ... increases base salaries and starting salaries so we are more competitive,” one commissioner said when explaining the change in split. Staff told the board that the total cost remains the same because the split is internal to the 6% pool; the town’s proposed 6% total was unchanged.
Staff and public‑safety leaders emphasized…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
