Baxter Mayor Danny Holmes said the city wants to include raises in the city’s new fiscal year budget.
Holmes said Baxter is looking at a potential $1 or $2 hourly increase for all city employees. Holmes said he and the City Council both agree that the raises would be important.
“We have always wanted to give raises and we are taking a look at it,” Holmes said. “You know our employees, we always want to take care of our employees here in Baxter. They are the greatest asset we have and you know, we want to raise their salaries up and we are going to do that.”
Holmes said the goal is to provide the raises without raising property taxes. Holmes said he does believe there is enough room in the city’s upcoming budget to provide the raises.
“I feel good about the budget this year,” Holmes said. “I feel like you know, again I don’t want to put any more taxes on the citizens of Baxter. I don’t think this council wants to do that and we are not going to do that or that’s my plan as of right now. I don’t feel like we need to raise taxes. We may have to get in there and do some cutting and cut some things out of the wish list.”
Holmes said he believes the raises will make Baxter more competitive in pay and a more attractive place to work.
“15 years ago we started a police officer off at $9 an hour and that’s unheard of today of course,” Holmes said. “Inflation has grown over the years, but we want to keep our employees. I feel like with our benefits package and our raises, that everyone will want to stay and work for us.”
Holmes said he and the city council will further discuss raises at the next city council meeting later this month.
