Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council debates COLA and merit pay as part of 2027 budget discussion
Summary
During the budget review, councilmembers and Administrator Stacy Barnes discussed pay policy, noting the adopted budget budgets a 3% merit pool though evaluations make 3% difficult; Council President Mark Trummel expressed opposition to COLA increases while Councilmember Wayne Keeton cautioned about cutting pay.
Councilmembers used the budget discussion on July 20 to examine how the city manages employee pay through merit and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA). Administrator Stacy Barnes told the council the adopted policy budgets a 3% merit pool but that the performance form makes earning 3% unlikely; employees at pay-scale maximums receive a lump-sum payment based on 2,080 hours multiplied by the earned percentage rather than a permanent rate increase.
Council President Mark Trummel said he has "never been a fan of COLA and merit increases, preferring one or the other," and added color about compensation trade-offs during the discussion. Trummel remarked that "the City hands out increases like Christmas candy," reflecting concern about how raises are distributed. Councilmember Wayne Keeton noted the city has quality employees and that pay reductions would likely be a last resort.
The council did not adopt a separate pay policy change at the meeting but discussed the options as part of balancing expenditures and reserves in the draft 2027 budget.
