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Council approves holiday gift cards for employees after debate over part‑time fairness and budgeting
Summary
Riviera Beach approved $300 gift cards for full‑time employees and $150 for part‑time workers (later discussed equalization to $300); council members debated whether the benefit should be negotiated in contracts or budgeted earlier. Total cost as presented: $196,000 (would rise to ~$204,000 if part‑time amount matched).
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — The City Council voted Dec. 3 to approve holiday appreciation gift cards for employees after a robust discussion about fairness and budgeting.
Human Resources Director Danille DeCoste proposed distributing $300 gift cards to full‑time employees and $150 to part‑time employees, a plan she said was intended to show appreciation in lieu of giving additional paid time off this year. The purchase was described as budgeted and would be charged to departmental salary lines, with tax withholding and FICA applied as required.
Multiple councilmembers questioned whether the difference between full‑time and part‑time treatment was fair. One member proposed equalizing the amount to $300 for part‑time staff; finance staff estimated that would increase total cost from $196,000 to about $204,000 (roughly $8,000 more). Opposition also centered on process: several councilmembers argued that such benefits should be negotiated as part of labor agreements or settled during the budgeting process, not presented as last‑minute agenda items.
Despite process concerns, the motion to approve the gift cards passed unanimously after discussion. Staff said the money would be processed through payroll to capture tax effects and charged against department salary budgets.
What happens next: Finance will process the gift card distribution and account for tax withholdings; HR and finance will coordinate disbursement to full‑ and part‑time employees as directed by council.
