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The Ilion Village Board voted last week to give 1.5 percent raises to three of its seven non-bargaining employees, opting to hold off on any decisions on further raises until after the village election on June 15.
A custodial and two dispatcher positions will receive the wage increase, which will cost the village a total of $1,344, according to village officials. The adopted 2010-11 budget did account for the raises, village officials said.
Most of the major decisions on wage increases, especially involving department heads and union contracts, will have to be made in the near future, however.
Union contracts for the police, public works, water and clerical departments are set to expire at the end of 2010, village officials said. The fire department union contract is set to expire at the end of 2011.
But the combined police and clerical departments’ salaries and wages account for over $1.2 million, or over 50 percent, of the entire general fund expenditures on payroll, according to 2010-11 budget figures on the village Web site. The over $5.5 million general fund spending plan includes almost $2,267,000, or close to 50 percent, for tentative payroll costs.
So, over half of the general fund payroll costs, which is also close to 50 percent of the entire spending plan, will be impacted by just two departments’ contracts.
The percentage of municipal spending on payroll costs, specifically dealing with the soon to expire contracts, is one of the main considerations that will face winners of the election.
The election includes two candidates for mayor and three candidates for a single village trustee seat.
Mayor: with a 4-year term:
Mark I. Cushman, Independent, Principles and Values party
John P. Stephens, Republican
Village trustee:
Three running for two village board seats with 4-year terms:
Democratic:
Barbara Collea
Robert D. Neary
Republican:
Beth A. Neale
Ilion residents’ choices for the positions will be facing difficult decisions on employees’ wages and benefits within six months of taking office. And in an economy that is predicted to face budget gaps in 2011 and beyond, as federal stimulus spending is set to run out, the outcome of these decisions is sure to play a major role in village tax rates for years to come.
Look in upcoming editions of The Telegram for local village election candidates’ responses to questions on issues ranging from raises and contract negotiations to community events and consolidation.
The Ilion Village Board voted last week to give 1.5 percent raises to three of its seven non-bargaining employees, opting to hold off on any decisions on further raises until after the village election on June 15.
A custodial and two dispatcher positions will receive the wage increase, which will cost the village a total of $1,344, according to village officials. The adopted 2010-11 budget did account for the raises, village officials said.
Most of the major decisions on wage increases, especially involving department heads and union contracts, will have to be made in the near future, however.
Union contracts for the police, public works, water and clerical departments are set to expire at the end of 2010, village officials said. The fire department union contract is set to expire at the end of 2011.
But the combined police and clerical departments’ salaries and wages account for over $1.2 million, or over 50 percent, of the entire general fund expenditures on payroll, according to 2010-11 budget figures on the village Web site. The over $5.5 million general fund spending plan includes almost $2,267,000, or close to 50 percent, for tentative payroll costs.
So, over half of the general fund payroll costs, which is also close to 50 percent of the entire spending plan, will be impacted by just two departments’ contracts.
The percentage of municipal spending on payroll costs, specifically dealing with the soon to expire contracts, is one of the main considerations that will face winners of the election.
The election includes two candidates for mayor and three candidates for a single village trustee seat.
Mayor: with a 4-year term:
Mark I. Cushman, Independent, Principles and Values party
John P. Stephens, Republican
Village trustee:
Three running for two village board seats with 4-year terms:
Democratic:
Barbara Collea
Robert D. Neary
Republican:
Beth A. Neale
Ilion residents’ choices for the positions will be facing difficult decisions on employees’ wages and benefits within six months of taking office. And in an economy that is predicted to face budget gaps in 2011 and beyond, as federal stimulus spending is set to run out, the outcome of these decisions is sure to play a major role in village tax rates for years to come.
Look in upcoming editions of The Telegram for local village election candidates’ responses to questions on issues ranging from raises and contract negotiations to community events and consolidation.
