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Council approves $850 one-time payment for full-time city employees after amendment clarifies recipients
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Summary
Council adopted R26117 to provide a one-time $850 payment to full-time city employees to help offset increased insurance costs; council amended the resolution to explicitly name which elected officials are included or excluded pending classification distinctions.
The North Little Rock City Council voted April 27 to authorize a one-time payment of $850 to full-time city employees who were employed as of a specified cutoff date. City finance staff said the payment was budgeted as a one-time measure to help offset higher employee insurance costs and would not become an ongoing salary increase.
During debate council members raised whether elected officials and council members were eligible under the ordinance language. Councilmember Hamilton proposed an amendment to clarify the wording by naming the mayor, city clerk and city attorney as the referenced elected officials rather than the broader phrase "elected officials," and to exclude city council members who are classified separately for personnel purposes. After discussion — including staff remarks that the city’s classification system ordinarily treats council members differently than full-time employees for compensation purposes — the council adopted the amendment and then adopted the resolution as amended.
City staff said the payment is a one-time budgetary item financed from carry-forward funds and will be distributed according to payroll procedures; council members were told that if classification questions remain staff will consult the city attorney for a final opinion.
Next steps: Human Resources and Finance will execute payroll changes and confirm the final recipient list per the amended language.
