Assembly rejects amended COLA exclusions; original COLA resolution remains in effect

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on June 16 concluded a prolonged debate over cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for borough employees and voted against adopting an amended resolution that would have excluded certain nonrepresented employees from future COLA adjustments.

The Assembly first took a motion to reconsider the prior vote and approved reconsideration. After debate and an unsuccessful amendment to strike fiscal year 2026 from the resolution, the motion to adopt the amended COLA resolution failed in a roll-call vote. Because the amended resolution failed, the previously adopted Resolution 3,100 remains in effect and all nonrepresented employees will receive the COLA for FY 2026, 2027 and 2028 as previously enacted.

Assembly debate spanned several meetings and included concerns about fiscal sustainability and personnel costs. Assemblymembers urged more time for Human Resources to analyze pay-step practices, evaluation procedures and the broader pay plan before changing the benefit structure. HR Manager Carolyn Holman told the Assembly she will consult the existing compensation study (by Gallagher), analyse historical data, review evaluation practices and return with layered recommendations—targeting a report by October or by the policy session.

After the final vote, the Assembly asked staff to prepare a comprehensive analysis of staff levels, step increases and other personnel-cost efficiencies for future action. The Assembly emphasized the need to balance competitive pay and workforce retention against long-term affordability for borough taxpayers.

No formal changes to payroll took effect as a result of this meeting; the earlier Resolution 3,100 covering COLA for the stated years remains active.