Columbia council approves staff raises, declines finance manager raise and authorizes job posting

Columbia Borough Council voted Dec. 9 to approve several nonunion staff salary increases, declined a proposed raise for the finance manager, and authorized advertising for the vacant finance manager position.

The council approved a 4% increase for the chief of police after a motion moved and seconded by council members; the transcript records the motion and an affirmative voice vote. Council then approved 3% raises for the public works manager, property manager, zoning/codes manager, market house manager, property inspector and the zoning officer in individual motions. Council discussed whether the raises could be handled as a single consent motion but decided to vote individually to allow members to object to any single line item.

The finance manager raise was handled differently: because the finance manager position is vacant (the resignation was tendered the previous day, effective Dec. 19), council moved to not approve a 3% raise for that position and the motion to withhold the raise carried. Separately, as an added agenda item (10g) the council authorized staff to advertise and recruit for the finance manager position; that motion also carried by voice vote.

Council debated contractual language governing the police chief'026raise, with staff noting an individual employment contract ties the chief'026raise to the unionized officers' contract provisions. One staff member said, "this contract has been in place since the chief took over," noting individual employment contracts must be reauthorized every two years per borough code.

Why it matters: The moves affect municipal payroll costs for 2026 and the council'026personnel plan; the authorization to advertise the finance manager position starts the recruitment process to fill a key finance role.