The Baxter City Council officially approved a 50 cent per hour pay increase for all city employees at Thursday’s meeting.
Mayor Danny Holmes said the city council believes in giving raises and treating the employees well. Despite factors like inflation, Holmes said it was important for the employees to at least get something.
“This was a tough budget this year for everyone,” Holmes said. “We tried to give more than 50 cents, but we will come back in six months and see how our budget is looking. If it looks good, then we’ll give another raise.”
Holmes said the 50 cent per hour bump was the most the city could afford at this time to keep the budget balanced. Holmes said any future increases will be dependent on sales tax revenue.
Many local governments have lost employees to bigger cities as a result of inflation. Holmes said Baxter has not had that issue.
“We pay very good, and we pay 100 percent of the employees health insurance,” Holmes said. “That’s pretty huge, as you know how healthcare is. So we feel like we’re in line. Like I said, we’d like to give them more, and we will when we get the chance.”
The pay raise was approved unanimously by the City Council.
In other business, the council approved the annexation of 199 Millie Lane and a plan of services for annexation, both on first reading.
The council also approved a lease for police motorcycles.
