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Central council approves 2026–27 budget; amendment to remove employee benefits fails
Summary
The City of Central approved its 2026–2027 budget after rejecting an amendment that would have eliminated a proposed employee benefits line and a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for administrative staff; the council debated legal and equity implications before voting.
The Central City Council approved the 2026–2027 budget ordinance after rejecting a council amendment that would have eliminated a proposed employee benefits package and a 3% administrative cost‑of‑living increase.
Council Member Wells moved to amend the proposed budget to remove an employee benefits line item and to eliminate a 3% pay increase for administrative staff (distinct from an ordinance‑set 2% increase for the mayor). Council members and staff debated whether offering health benefits to only a subset of employees would be legally permissible; staff clarified that a benefits package would typically be available to all qualifying employees and could not be selectively applied to police or administrative staff without broader policy changes.
Spencer, a city staff member, explained that the benefits and pay line items were part of a package added after the budget workshop and that removing or changing them would require consistent application across employee groups. He also confirmed that the city’s hydraulics and ODA processes would include any detention design if developers included it in project plans.
During public comment, Chief Corkran (Central Police Department) said the hybrid policing model being considered separately would still leave only two full‑time CPD employees under the hybrid option. Resident Ray Ashford urged clearer, separate agenda discussion of items such as a $100,000 contribution to the public defenders office and a city‑hall vehicle purchase. Council asked for and received clarification from the mayor about previously negotiated changes: the $100,000 contribution was part of a negotiated arrangement with multiple municipalities to augment public defender services for 12 months while state legislation is sought.
After procedural debate and a roll call, the amendment to remove benefits and the 3% increase failed. The council returned to the original ordinance and approved the 2026–2027 budget on roll call; Council Member Wells recorded the lone dissenting vote.
The mayor emphasized the city’s prior reserves and spending history in explaining the budget and noted the council’s role in approving the mayor’s proposed budget. The council’s action enacts the 2026–2027 budget; staff said any future ordinance to amend ODA procedures or benefits would be brought back for formal consideration.
