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Junction City employees to receive pay raise

May 30, 2008|JESSE OSBOURNE

Junction City employees will have a little extra change in their pockets after the first pay period in July.

Junction City Council members implemented a 50 cents an hour raise for all city employees at Thursday's called meeting.

Councilman Keith Richardson raised the question of raises during the first reading of the budget for next fiscal year. Councilman Dale Walls said he was in favor of a raise since there was no raise last year. Mayor G.G. Harmon agreed with the councilmen.

Richardson pushed first for a $1 an hour raise and then a 75 cents an hour raise before other council members and the mayor cautioned him that too drastic of an increase could cause the need to raise taxes. Harmon said he did not like that idea.

Junction City also will add a new part-time police officer no sooner than July 1. The position will consist of up to 24 hours a week and no benefits.

Council members thought it was important to bring on a certified part-time officer this summer due to more incidents occurring during the summer, especially at night.

Police Chief Jimmy Gipson said the officer wouldn't always work 24 hours a week, especially during the slow season. Adding another officer will give the department more grant leverage, he said, and allow for someone to patrol at night and on the weekends.

The position was estimated to cost around $15,000. City Clerk Susan Music said she had $12,000 available in reserve.

Walls said he thought some tax revenue numbers had been underestimated and could be bumped up to project more revenue. Music agreed and bumped up money received from franchise fees, municipal insurance tax and occupational taxes.

The projections were more than enough to fund a new officer.

The first reading of the budget passed with the additions of the new part-time officer and employee raises.

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