Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Times Reports Crown Point Budget Passes First Reading with 3% Raises Intact

From the Northwest Indiana Times:

A 3 percent across-the-board raise for full-time Crown Point city workers stayed in the 2014 budget as talks continued on Monday.

The City Council met in special session and approved a first reading of the proposed $22.2 million budget which included the raise. Final approval is set for later this month.

Councilman Mark Schweitzer, R-at large, supported pay hikes for city workers but raised concerns over continued granting of across-the-board increases over a span of years.

The gap between higher and lower salaries would continue to grow over time, with upper pay scales eventually growing out of reach.

"A $10,000 gap today becomes a $20,000 difference some day," Schweitzer said.

"We need to come up with a formula," he said. Raises scaled to salary ranges or lump-sum increases were two possibilities.

Councilwoman Laura Sauerman, R-4th, agreed.
...

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/crown-point/c-p-budget-passes-first-reading-with-raise-intact/article_1ce96689-3451-5782-9ba5-3556814ca198.html