The city's Municipal Council voted Tuesday night to reinstate funding for employee health insurance and pay increases. Facing a tight fiscal year, Mayor Lewis Billings announced in May that city employees would have to foot part of the bill for their own health insurance for the first time and that regular pay increases would be cut. But after negotiations with the council and Skip Tandy, president of the Employees Association, the administration agreed to offer a compromise: employees could vote for whether they'd prefer a 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment on top of their salaries or to keep the free health insurance and pay increases they were used to.
"The employees voted three-to-one for the option which essentially maintained the status quo from our prior year," said City Administrator Wayne Parker.
Parker said 84 percent of city employees cast a ballot.
Coming up with money for the benefits won't be easy, said Denise Roy, the city's interim budget officer; the $275,000 bill will come from a combination of delayed hiring after employees vacate spots on the city payroll and withdrawals from fund balances.
Tandy said he's satisfied with the outcome.
"We are so happy with the outcome that we've been able to achieve this year," he said. "It's been a great working relationship that we've enjoyed."
The council, the members of which are themselves city employees, voted unanimously.
• Ace Stryker can be reached at 344-2556 or at
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Coming up with money for the benefits won't be easy, said Denise Roy, the city's interim budget officer; the $275,000 bill will come from a combination of delayed hiring after employees vacate spots on the city payroll and withdrawals from fund balances.
And not mentioned is that Provo Police will be increasing "revenue enhancement" practices on the street.
your right i will not be going any where by the zion city myself. the police are as close to commie rule as i've ever seen in the usa. i will spend my monies else where and feel real good about it
