City’s budget to include raises

Looking at the city of Crowley’s budget for the new fiscal year, there is not much difference than this past year’s, except for one thing civil servants have been in search of for months: a raise.
There is a 4 percent raise for all current full-time employees except for the police, who will receive a 6 percent increase if the budget is ultimately adopted.
These raises do not change the base hiring salary, however.
During a special meeting of the city’s Revenue & Finance Committee, the proposed Fiscal 2016 budget was parsed through Monday morning. The meeting was held in the Crowley City Hall Conference Room.
Elliot Doré, chairman of the committee, explained that the budget looks the same even with the increases due, in part, to a projected 3 percent increase in revenue this past year.
In a letter breakdown of the items, the budget is shown to be zero balanced at this time in the sectors of General Fund, Youth Rec. Operating, Youth Rec. Building, Cemetery and Utility.
There were also three requests incorporated into the budget after department heads made requests.
These include:
• Court: At a cost of $2,108, there was a request for the increase in salary of two full-time personnel and no increase for the judge herself.
• Street: At an estimated cost of $21,000 (one truck).
• Wastewater: At an estimated cost of $24,000 (two used trucks).
The city projects a decrease in fuel cost from last year. However, with the unknown that is the fuel market from year to year, the city has budgeted high in case the prices skyrocket again.
The 11 a.m. special meeting followed a called 10:45 a.m. special City Council meeting for the provisional approval of two new officers.
Under separate motions, Nicholas Penn and Leonard Verni were granted provisional employment so long as they pass drug screenings, physicals, etc.
Chief K.P. Gibson explained that both men have experience in some form or another coming into Crowley. Penn had three years of experience in law enforcement and corrections with another agency before his application to be employed by Crowley. Verni, meanwhile, is POST certified and has worked previously for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Both men were approved by unanimous 5-0 vote.
Present for the meeting were Mayor Pro Tem Steven Premeaux, Alderwoman Dr. Ezora Proctor and Aldermen Jeff Doré, Bryan Borill and Elliot Doré.