Two percent cost of living raise for city employees

At the Tuesday Lakeside city council workshop discussion was exclusively reserved, to what if any, raise the city staff should get.

Mayor Schilling began with Councilor Sherych, who suggested a three percent raise along with Councilor Swift. Councilor Kellison thought two percent along with Councilor Eubanks. Councilor Anderson was absent.

Councilor Armstrong, had done some salary homework. She presented her reasoning for a wage freeze or no more than a two percent raise, which she had first presented to the council in the form of a letter at the last regular meeting. Armstrong was not in attendance at that meeting, she was out of town.

Additionally, she had contacted other cities referenced at the last meeting, who at the time thought they were getting raises. Some cities thinking they were getting raises are not now or the raises were reduced by their city council’s from what had first been presented at their budget meetings.

Mayor Schilling convened the special meeting at the conclusion of the workshop.

After some additional discussion Councilor Armstrong made a motion to give a two percent cost of living wage increase with a one time only two days of personal time to be used in the upcoming fiscal year.

Councilor’s Sherych and Swift were agreeable to two percent with the two additional personal days added to sweeten the pot. The motion carried with one no vote coming from Mayor Schilling. Schilling offered no explanation.