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Proposal to make Christmas Eve a full city holiday fails after council debate on cost
Summary
A council proposal to change Christmas Eve from a half‑day to a full paid holiday (effective 2026) failed after members debated a roughly $24,000 estimated annual cost and preferred bargaining‑unit negotiation or later study.
The council considered changing Christmas Eve from a half‑day to a full paid holiday beginning in 2026 but voted the proposal down on Nov. 3.
Council President Alex introduced the proposal, saying little municipal business occurs on the half day and that making it a full holiday would better accommodate staff family time. Opponents questioned timing, fiscal impact and whether such a change should be negotiated with bargaining units. One council member estimated the annual cost (including benefits) at about $24,000 and urged adding the request to future contract bargaining rather than unilaterally adopting it.
Council members suggested alternatives such as negotiating both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve as part of labor agreements. After discussion, the motion to approve the policy change failed.
Provenance: The holiday policy proposal and subsequent discussion, including the cost estimate and questions about bargaining, appear in the transcript's new‑business segment.
