STRUTHERS COUNCIL City employees to receive raises of 2.5% to 4% retroactive to Jan. 1

Council urged voters to approve the five-year, 6.9-mill school levy.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- City council adopted wage ordinances that give employees pay increases ranging from 2.5 percent to 4 percent that will cost the city an additional $50,000 annually.
Mayor Daniel Mamula said the raises, retroactive to Jan. 1, are 4 percent for full-time positions in the police, street and waste departments that did not receive an increase in 2005; 3 percent for part-time clerks, who also did not get increases in 2005; and 2.5 percent for full-time employees in the waste and street departments who did receive pay increases in 2005.
Mamula said the pay ordinances include a new three-step system for new hires in the full-time labor groups. They will received 80 percent of the top rate the first year, 90 percent the second year, and 100 percent the third year they are employed.
Other business
In other action at Wednesday's meeting, council adopted a resolution supporting passage of the Struthers School District's five-year, 6.9-mill property tax levy on the May 2 primary election ballot.
Council said revenue from the levy is needed to preserve educational programs and financial stability of the district, despite the "considerable steps" taken by the board of education to address the district's financial condition.
Council also passed a resolution asking the Ohio Department of Development to consider revising rules for the Job Ready Sites Program that put urban areas at a competitive disadvantage with rural areas because a site must have at least 100 acres. The Job Sites Program is part of state Issue 1 passed by voters last November.
alcorn@vindy.com