Some officials, workers to get 2.5% raises

Some officials, workers to get 2.5% raises

The raises start in 2010.

STAFF REPORT

COLUMBIANA — Some city officials and workers Tuesday received 2.5-percent raises to bring their salaries in line with employees in other city departments.

Nine supervisors, three nonunion workers, and 20 to 22 people on the fire department and emergency medical response service, will get the raises, said Kevin Smith, the city’s finance director.

Police have a contract with wage increases ranging from 3.2 percent to 3.5 percent, and other city workers in unions have received a 2.5 percent pay increase.

Smith said city Manager Keith Chamberlin decided to ask council to give managers and nonunion workers the 2.5 percent raise instead of the higher police raise.

The finance director said it was difficult to predict how much the raises will cost the city.

In 2008, the city paid about $50,000 for emergency response, but so for this year, the city has paid about $94,000.

Some councilmen were concerned about giving the raises in light of declining income-tax revenue in 2008 and this year.

The raise that was approved will take effect in 2010.