The Plymouth Common Council approved the city’s 2017 budget Monday, but not without opposition. The budget had been cut by nearly $1.2 million from the initial proposal, in an effort to help balance it.
However, council member Gary Cook felt the cuts hit the Police and Fire departments particularly hard. “I just feel that it was inappropriate to make the majority of the cuts, especially in public safety,” he said. “The fair thing would’ve been to maybe tell the department heads in order to make the dollar amount that the clerk-treasurer was comfortable with as far as the budget, that you need to come back with a certain percentage of reduction in your respective budgets.”
However, City Attorney Sean Surrisi pointed out that the cuts weren’t necessarily to existing expenses but instead focused on additional police cars and fire department turnout gear. The council approved the ordinance setting the 2017 appropriations and tax rate on second and third readings, with Cook opposing the measure both times.
Meanwhile, a new salary ordinance for 2017 was presented for first reading, after council members rejected an earlier proposal back in August. Under the new ordinance, several employees in the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office would see pay raises.
The deputy clerk-treasurer and utility billing clerk would see a yearly increase of just under $1,000. At the same time, three other staff members would receive a raise of just under $2,500, to make their salaries equal to the deputy clerk-treasurer and utility billing clerk. Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver says the increases reflect the fact that all those staff members are now required to have the same skills.
Additionally, the ordinance calls for a raise of just under $6,400 for the mayor’s assistant and a $3,500 annual raise for a Police Department multi-task employee.
No discussion was held Monday on the new salary ordinance. The Plymouth Common Council will likely vote on it at a future meeting.
