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Algoma committee recommends 2025 budget after adding $2,000 for firefighter wages
Summary
The Algoma finance and personnel committee recommended the proposed 2025 budget to the full council with an amendment to add $2,000 to the fire department wages line. The committee also confirmed levy and mill-rate scenarios and set a Dec. 2 council vote to adopt the budget resolution.
The Algoma finance and personnel committee recommended the city’s proposed 2025 budget to the full council on Nov. 19 after amending the draft to add $2,000 to the fire department wages line.
Jamie, who led the administration’s budget presentation, told the committee the city’s levy estimate for 2025 is $2,179,289 and that a recent $4 million borrowing closed in October with lower-than-expected interest and premiums, reducing the levy from earlier estimates. Jamie also walked the committee through mill-rate scenarios; using current assumptions the gross mill rate shown in the packet is about 18.55 per $1,000 of assessed value, with a tentative net mill rate illustrative example near 17.40 depending on the upcoming school tax levy credit.
Council discussion focused on how to distribute raises so that lower-paid stipended firefighters do not receive a token increase. A council member argued that splitting a 4% increase into two 2% installments left rank-and-file firefighters with only a small annual raise and called for a flat-dollar supplement for equity. "It's a slap in the face for the firefighters," the council member said.
After debate, Wayne moved and John seconded a motion to add an additional $2,000 to the fire wages budget line (raising the line from $2,000 to $4,000). The motion carried, and the committee then voted to recommend the amended budget to the full council; Jamie said the formal budget adoption resolution will be on the Dec. 2 council agenda and that the line-item transfer funding the increase will come from reducing the general-fund contingency.
The budget packet also reflected adjustments such as moving former cable revenues into general government, a contingency line increased to $34,452.56, a $701 workers’ compensation adjustment, and a change in the wage plan from a single 3% across-the-board increase to two 2% increments for many full-time staff (the change had been previously approved by the body).
The committee’s recommendation is advisory; the full council will consider the formal resolution for adoption at its next regular meeting on Dec. 2.
Votes at a glance - Add $2,000 to fire department wages: Motion by Wayne, second by John — approved (motion carried). - Recommend 2025 budget (as amended) to council: Motion by Scott, second by Lee — approved (committee vote).
