LOWELL -- Aldermen approved Tuesday the $6.9 million 2015 budget which included a 3 percent raise for most employees.
The raises were based on employee performance evaluations, said Jerry Hudlow, finance director.
The employee had to score a certain number of points on the evaluation to get the raise and most employees did. A few employees didn't score high enough and didn't qualify for the raise, Hudlow added.
Alderman Eric Schein voted against the budget. Schein was against the 2014 budget last year because employees and the mayor received raises. Schein said last year he didn't think giving raises to employees was the proper thing for the city to do.
Aldermen Tom Evers, Janette Lasater, Conner Jones, Keith Williams, Kendell Stucki, Dean Bitner and Ronnie Breland voted in favor of the budget.
"The budget process went much better this year," said Williams, Budget Committee chairman. "We didn't have near the problems this year we had in 2014.
"This year we figured the raises into the budget from the very beginning. We asked every council member during the budget meeting if they were in favor of the raises and everyone agreed, that's why I was a little surprised we didn't have a unanimous vote on the 2015 budget," Williams added.
Mayor Eldon Long praised the department heads, staff, the Budget Committee and Hudlow for their work on the budget.
"What's important is we have a balanced budget and many people were involved in the process. I think we put together a responsible budget the provides the public services our residents deserve. I very proud of everyone who worked on the budget," Long said.
Hudlow acknowledged the budget process in Lowell is improving.
"The process went much more smoothly this year. We had people working together not against each other," Hudlow said.
The city is in good financial shape with $1 million in reserve and a $20,000 surplus is expected in 2015, Hudlow said.
"Depending on how things go, we could end up with a larger surplus next year, but we won't know that until this time next year," Hudlow added.
There would have been a $100,000 surplus next year, but the Budget Committee decided to add three paramedics to the Fire Department which cost the city in salary and benefits, Hudlow said.
"We really don't need the paramedics until 2016 but we need to hire three firefighters next year so we have them trained by 2016," Hudlow said. The three firefighters won't be hired until April.
NW News on 12/17/2014