The Grantville City Council approved a budget amendment to give city employees a one dollar per hour raise and a five percent cost of living adjustment.
A special-called meeting was held on May 9, before the council's work session, to vote on the amendment and to approve an emergency purchase of an air conditioning unit for the city clerk's office and the public works office.
Be in the know the moment news happens
Council members Casey Evans, Jim Sells and Alan Wacaser voted to approve the budget amendment, while council member Ruby Hines voted against.
The pay increase was previously approved at the council's April 25 meeting.
Because of rising inflation, Sells proposed the pay increase to help with city employee retention.
Sells said the pay increase will be supported through a $1 million surplus the city has from its property tax increase
Hines voiced opposition to the budget amendment. Though she is in favor of pay increases, she said she cannot support the budget amendment because city employees have not resigned from law wages, some residents have not received reimbursements from the city for incorrect sewer charges and two former city employees did not receive premium pay through American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The two former employees left their employment with the city before the cut off date to receive premium pay, said Hines.
The budget amendment was given to the council as resolution, and Mayor Doug Jewell said he felt the amendment should be approved as an...
Early voting in the U.S. midterm elections is underway. Voters are deciding which party will control Congress, as well as numerous state legislatures and governors' offices. Snopes' fact-checker...