New Patterson budget cuts employee salaries

Tuesday was the night when the pain inflicted by a year of budget-scrubbing hit home.
The Patterson City Council passed a 2025 operating budget that calls for a 5% city employee pay cut across the board. The city government also has plans to stop paying its 50% share of health insurance for the families of city employees in November.
Also Tuesday, the council passed an ordinance that passes the cost of street-lighting on to households and businesses.
The two ordinances broke with the unanimity that is the rule in City Council votes.
Patterson’s budget problems became apparent earlier this year, when then-City Accountant Reginald Weary said unexpected expenses related to capital projects had to be paid.
Another development: the federal COVID tap stopped flowing. Mayor Rodney Grogan told a police officer Tuesday that the federal government had provided for either a one-time stipend or a 6% yearly pay increase during the pandemic.
That funding has ended.
“That’s what happened,” said Councilwoman Mamie Perry. “We could not afford that increase. ..
“The ultimate bottom line is we have to do something for the city to survive.”
Councilman Ray Dewey Sr. saw the pay cut as the lesser evil.
“It was lay some people off and some lucky people get to keep the 18% raise,” Dewey said, “or cut employees 5%.”
The city will continue to pay 50% of family coverage for current employees until November, giving them a chance to look for other coverage. But the city won’t pick up any of the cost for family coverage for new employees.
Dewey, Perry and colleagues Lee Condolle and Miranda Weinbach voted for the budget. Councilman R. DeMale Bowden, who has complained recently that the council wasn’t getting enough information about city finances, voted against.
The street light ordinance is another measure design to reduce costs. In this case, the cost is the money the city pays for street lighting. Bowden said the cost to the city is about $121,000 a year.
The ordinance sets a $4 monthly fee for every home and business, including each unit in a multifamily apartment building.
The rate can be reduced or raised based on changes the rates the city pays for street lighting.
Grogan said the fee applies only to people who live within the Patterson city limits, not to utility customers who live outside the city.
Weinbach, Perry and Condolle voted for the ordinance creating the street-lighting fee. Bowden and Dewey voted against it.