Orange council approves one-time $1,500 payment for city employees after debate

The Orange City Council voted May 20 to approve a one-time payment of $1,500 to each city employee, a measure the mayor described as a ‘‘bonus’’ funded from a recent one-time payment to the city.

The vote followed an extended discussion about whether the payment should be limited to employees who wear uniforms. Council member Miss Salter opposed the full measure, saying the larger amount could not be justified from the city’s budget: “Asking taxpayers to fund an additional $1,500 per employee is not something that I can justify,” she said during debate.

The council majority approved the resolution after the mayor and other members said the money came from an extra payment the city received and would not draw from general infrastructure funds. Mayor Larry Spruce Jr described the payment as a way to “say thank you” and explained the amount as the equivalent of “$150 a month,” which he said helped compensate employees for work conditions and added expenses.

Council members who spoke for the measure said the payment was not drawn from accounts used for streets and drainage and that it followed earlier discussions about staff compensation. Opponents pressed for clearer wording and for future workshop discussion before adopting similar items.

The resolution passed on a voice vote with recorded “aye” votes from Miss McKenna, Miss Salter, Mr. Childs, Mr. Birch, Mr. Mortimer and the mayor.

The council did not adopt any additional restrictions during the vote; it approved the payment as written and directed staff to implement the one-time payment consistent with the resolution’s terms.