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Council keeps 4% compensation assumption for budget; debate over flat vs percentage COLA
Summary
Staff proposed a 4% general wage adjustment for 2027 as a budget assumption; councilors debated whether a cost‑of‑living increase should be an equal dollar amount for all employees or a percentage tied to market adjustments, and staff will post a compensation breakdown to the packet.
City staff told the council the 2027 budget uses a 4% increase to the 2026 pay scale as a planning assumption, citing recent CPI and Social Security COLA estimates and a compensation study used to set market ranges.
"With that uncertainty, 4% felt like a solid estimate," Josh (S2) said, describing regional CPI and Social Security numbers he included in the packet. He told councilors he would post a total compensation graph and a department‑level breakdown to the packet.
Several councilors argued about how the increase should be distributed. One councilor said cost‑of‑living increases should be an equal dollar amount shared by all employees so lower‑paid workers gain the same nominal benefit as higher‑paid staff; another councilor and staff argued market‑based percentage adjustments and step changes are standard practice and that the recently completed compensation study informed the recommended approach.
Councilors agreed to retain the 4% planning figure for the current budget draft and asked staff to return with more precise wage and benefits totals and scenario detail as the process advances.
