Pima Town Council directs pay increases in FY2026 budget work session

The Pima Town Council directed staff Tuesday to add several pay changes to the proposed FY2026 budget, including a raise for the Fire Department to $15, an increase in inmate labor pay to $1.50, and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all employees.

Manager Vernon Batty led the budget work session at Pima Town Hall and reported the council's instruction to incorporate those changes into the draft FY2026 budget. The minutes record the council's direction but do not record a formal vote on those compensation items; the minutes state the council "directed Manager V. Batty to incorporate some changes" and list the three items as specified.

The minutes do not specify units or frequency for the listed amounts (for example, "$15" for the Fire Department and "$1.50" for inmate labor are recorded without indicating whether those figures are hourly rates, stipend amounts, or another measure). The 2% figure is described as a cost-of-living adjustment for all employees.

The session opened with Vice Mayor Teresa Bailey calling roll at 7:17 p.m.; Mayor Brian Paull arrived at 7:30 p.m. and Council Member Lucas Hoopes joined at 7:46 p.m. The meeting record lists Manager Vernon Batty, Public Works Director Evan Stringfellow, Police Chief Diane Cauthen, Librarian Rane Jones, Fire Chief Terry Earp and Town Clerk Cody Marshall as staff present.

The only formal motion recorded in the minutes was to adjourn. Council Member Lucas Hoopes moved to adjourn at 9:09 p.m.; Council Member Cade Bryce seconded the motion, which the minutes say "carried unanimously." The minutes do not list individual roll-call votes for the adjournment beyond that note.

Next procedural steps noted in the minutes: staff were directed to reflect the requested compensation changes in the FY2026 budget draft for future consideration. The minutes do not indicate a timeline for final adoption or identify funding sources or offsets for the requested increases.