Will Youngstown Council OK a pay raise while facing a deficit?

Will Youngstown Council OK a pay raise while facing a deficit?

YOUNGSTOWN —With the city facing a deficit of more than $3 million that will probably lead to layoffs, city council will consider a contract for water department workers that calls for pay increases totaling more than 8 percent over the life of the three-year deal.

While council considers the deal, Mayor Jay Williams is meeting this week with the heads of the city’s six major employee unions to discuss ways to reduce the budget deficit including salary and benefit concessions.

Without cuts, the city would need to eliminate 60 workers — or the financial equivalent, $3.9 million in salary and benefits — by July 1. It’s also possible deeper cuts are needed, city administration officials say.

Under normal financial conditions, the three-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2726, which represents about 40 water department employees, would be reasonable, city officials say.

The contract, already approved by the union, calls for a 2.5-percent raise this year followed by 3-percent annual raises in 2009 and 2010.

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com