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Franklin council adopts temporary 2019 appropriations, adds firefighters and approves pay increases
Summary
The Franklin City Council on Dec. 3 approved emergency Ordinance 2018‑24, providing temporary appropriations through March 31, 2019; it also approved Resolution 2018‑64 to add two full‑time firefighters and Resolution 2018‑65 setting 2019 pay rates for nonunion employees, including a 3% raise.
The Franklin City Council on Dec. 3 adopted emergency Ordinance 2018‑24 to provide temporary appropriations for city operations through March 31, 2019, and approved two resolutions that increase firefighter staffing and set 2019 pay rates for nonunion employees.
City Manager Sonny Lewis said the temporary budget follows projected revenues from the Tax Budget adopted June 18, 2018, and is intended to fund city operations while staff prepares the final budget for council before March 31. He told council the preliminary appropriations add $25,000 to Economic Development for downtown improvements and increase transfers to ODOT and Issue Two because projects are upcoming; for Issue Two projects the city must front costs and is later reimbursed for half of the project cost.
"We do this every year," Lewis said, describing the ordinance as a routine first‑quarter appropriation. The ordinance was moved by Matt Wilcher, seconded by Debbie Fouts, and passed on roll call with Michael Aldridge recorded absent.
At the same meeting council approved Resolution 2018‑64 to increase full‑time firefighter positions in the Fire & EMS division from four to six. Lewis said the staffing change is intended to reduce overtime costs. Paul Ruppert moved the resolution, Mrs. Fouts seconded it, and the measure passed on a roll‑call vote with Aldridge absent.
Lewis also presented Resolution 2018‑65, which sets pay rates for 2019 for union and nonunion employees. He said nonunion employees will receive a 3% pay increase and that the city’s contribution for nonunion health insurance premiums will rise by 0.5 percentage points to 15%; he noted Fire Department salary rates were not included in the resolution because they remain under negotiation. The resolution was moved by Matt Wilcher, seconded by Debbie Fouts, and passed by the council present.
Votes at the Dec. 3 meeting on budget and personnel items were recorded by roll call; in all of the above motions Mayor Todd Hall and a majority of councilmembers present voted in favor and Mr. Michael Aldridge was absent for the votes.
Council members said the staffing and budget moves are intended to keep routine city services operating while staff finalizes the full 2019 budget. The council recessed into an executive session later in the meeting to consider employee compensation and potential property purchase; no action followed, and the meeting was adjourned.
