Osage Beach aldermen revise pay plan: COLA raised, retirement match cut from draft budget

Osage Beach aldermen adjusted the personnel portion of the draft fiscal 2026 budget after a lengthened discussion about recruitment, retention and budget balance. After debate over whether to prioritize across‑the‑board pay or merit increases, the board agreed to raise the proposed premium cost‑of‑living adjustment to 3% and to reduce the proposed merit chart amounts by about a half‑percentage point; members also agreed to drop a proposed 1% employer retirement match from the draft because the city cannot afford it in the current…