Video: Proposed Columbus Budget Hints at 3 Percent Pay Raise for City Employees

[jwplatform EyxCYFCY]

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — City employees in Columbus could be recipients of a 3 percent pay raise.

Council members today mulled the proposed budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

On the table was a possible 3 percent raise across the board for city employees, which has already been supplemented into the proposed budget as it stands. This would prop each city employee above the $10 an hour mark, except some public works department employees. Ward 1 Councilman Gene Taylor suggested supplementing an additional $89,000 to the budgeted raise in order to compensate for those workers who currently make a little over $8 an hour. The board took to a vote after Taylor made a seconded motion to further discuss his proposal. The vote passed 4-2 with Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box and Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin voting nay.

However, councilmen also went over possible cuts in empty entry-level positions for the police and fire departments. 7 positions could be wiped from the police department’s openings, along with 3 positions from the fire department.

Columbus Mayor Robert Smith said he felt the cuts would be good in the long run.

“I feel good about it, and the reason I say I feel good about the cuts that were made is we’re still able to provide service to our citizens and taxpayers,” Smith said. “That’s the key.”

Councilmen will meet again at 3 p.m. next Wednesday in City Hall, though Smith said it was unlikely they would approve the budget then.