Lowell City Council approves 2.5% pay increase after tie votes and procedural debate

The Lowell City Council approved a revised budget that includes a 2.5% across-the-board pay increase for city employees and preserves funding for stormwater and the recycling center, council members said.

The compromise motion, offered after an initial 2% proposal resulted in a tie and a failed 3% substitute, passed after a subsequent motion for 2.5% received a second and a majority vote. Clerk Miss Ferg confirmed the motion included ‘‘salary adjustments,’’ a full-time parking position and a new patrol vehicle as part of the budget package.

Why it matters: Council debate focused on how to balance limited municipal funds and worker pay. Speakers repeatedly urged higher raises for lower-paid public works and police employees, and a public commenter who identified himself as ‘‘grandpa’’ said many young public-service workers could not afford basic expenses on current pay.

During the meeting, a council speaker warned that failing to pass a budget tonight could default the city to last year’s budget and put ‘‘$10 million’’ in grant funding at risk. Another member disputed that timeline in the meeting, saying the council has until June 30 to approve the budget. The transcript does not include a recorded roll-call of each member’s vote on every motion; votes are reported as tallies where noted.

Council members described policy trade-offs during debate. One council member said a 5% across-the-board raise would be affordable but others opposed flat increases that would also raise pay for higher-salaried staff. Another speaker argued some roles were overpaid and suggested a more targeted approach; supporters of the compromise said the 2.5% deal balances broad relief for lower-paid staff with fiscal caution.

The approved budget explicitly retains stormwater funding and the recycling center and provides for two positions mentioned in the motion (a stormwater position and a parks/recreation assistant), plus a full-time parking role and a new patrol vehicle.

Actions and votes recorded in the transcript: - Initial motion (described by the clerk as a 2% raise, maintain stormwater and recycling, include full-time parking position and new patrol vehicle): recorded vote 2 yes, 2 no (tie) — motion did not immediately pass. - Substitute motion (3% across the board): defeated (vote recorded as opposed; transcript does not list member-by-member votes). - Compromise motion (2.5% across-the-board raise with the same included budget items): motion seconded and recorded as passed. The transcript records the clerk saying ‘‘Passes’’ but does not include a full roll-call of member votes.

What’s next: The budget and its included staffing and equipment allocations will proceed under the directions approved by the council. Council members also approved the city manager contract later in the meeting (see separate item).