Board recommends FY2027 budget with pay bump for board members and one-time employee bonus

The Marietta Board of Water and Light on May 11 voted to recommend adoption of a proposed FY2027 budget of $173,125,144, adding a $150 monthly increase for board compensation and a one-time, 1% employee payment.

The recommendation, moved by a committee member and seconded by another board member, was approved after discussion of budget impacts and implementation details. The board’s motion included a $150-per-month raise to the current $350 monthly board stipend and a staff-recommended characterization of the employee payment as a one-time bonus rather than a permanent salary increase.

Why it matters: the change would add recurring compensation cost for board members if implemented and a modest, one-time payroll expense for employees. Board members repeatedly emphasized the distinction between a permanent cost-of-living adjustment and a one-time payment, saying they wanted to avoid locking higher recurring personnel costs into future budgets.

Committee member (speaker 4) said, “The Board is recommending $150 monthly increase, which would be $12,600 to be effective 07/01/2026.” The committee also proposed a one-time 1% payment; as the committee member put it, “we did come up with a one-time 1% bonus.”

Finance staff (Patina) told the board that the one-time 1% payment plus benefits would cost approximately $165,000, and noted that the final figure could shift once payroll and staffing changes are finalized. The finance presenter also described how staff used reserves and other line-item adjustments to balance the proposed budget.

Board members debated logistics: whether the bonus would be taxable and how eligibility would be defined (some discussion focused on whether employees must be employed by a cutoff date to qualify). Committee members noted that characterizing the payment as a one-time bonus would avoid permanent salary inflation and suggested personnel committee review the exact wording.

The board moved to recommend adoption of the FY2027 budget as presented to the city, subject to the two additions (board compensation increase and the one-time employee payment). The motion was seconded and carried.

Next steps: the board will forward the recommendation to city council for final consideration and implementation decisions; the council could accept, modify or reject the recommended compensation adjustments and the one-time payment.