Public asks why city manager department rose 21.5%; manager explains staffing shift

A member of the public identified herself as Georgie Sirona and asked why the city manager department budget showed a 21.5% increase.

"The question is for the city manager, Miss Campbell. I'd like to know, the increase of 21.5% in her budget," Georgie Sirona said.

City Manager Ms. Campbell replied that the city manager department includes four full-time positions (city manager, two deputy city managers and a capital project manager) and that the capital project manager position (Jacob Platt) had been split-funded previously. "He is now 100% funded in the city manager's office," Ms. Campbell said, and that shift accounts for a substantial portion of the increase. She also noted a uniform 3% salary increase for all city employees and that FICA and retirement costs flow through based on salaries.

"So that's why salaries are up 21% because of Jake's position," Ms. Campbell said, explaining the mechanics of the line-item increase.