Montgomery city councilmen push to cut employees' merit raises - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

A tight budget is forcing the Montgomery City Council to make some tough decisions. The issue: three city councilmen are pushing not to give city employees merit raises in the new fiscal year that starts in October.  The mayor and other city council members are pushing to keep the pay raises. The debate went back and forth during a work session.

Members Glen Pruitt, Arch Lee and Richard Bollinger are saying no to including the merit pay raise for city employees in the upcoming fiscal year's budget.

"For the last 15 years, we've only one time not given a merit raise, so I think right now is another time we probably should not," Montgomery City Councilman District 1 Richard Bollinger said. The mayor says the merit raise is usually between 2.5 and 3 percent.

They say it's called playing it safe, being in a recession. These members say there are other budget line items such as road maintenance and the reserve that need this would be $1.4 million.

"We need some money in the reserve. We have great city employees. It's not about them doing their work and I want people to understand that. It's about do you have enough money to pay for it?," Montgomery City Councilman District 8 Glen Pruitt questioned.

The mayor says yes, the revenue is available to keep the merit raise.

Mayor Todd Strange says nearly $4 million has already been cut from the proposed budget, plus he says the merit raise will only affect 65 percent of employees.

And according to the mayor, withholding the raise is unfair because all city employees saw a $923 increase in healthcare employee contributions.

"It's tough on everybody. It's tough on me, it's tough on city employees. Money is tight and continues to be tight, and we would be better served putting that money in our reserve," Montgomery City Councilmen District 7 Arch Lee said.

Council members also say employee travel and training were brought up as a possible areas to cut. There's still a lot of budget debate and many are wondering when members will be ready to vote on this upcoming fiscal budget year.

The council has to pass a budget before October 1. Members hope to pass it at the next city council meeting in two weeks.

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