HUMBOLDT Five of eight councilmen in pocket unanimously approved increasing Humboldts tax levy by 2.219 mills, to 90.718, in a special session Tuesday evening.
A public hearing for the 2019 budget will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 13.
Humboldts budget has levies for the general fund and debt service on general obligation bonds 89.274 and 1.444, respectively for the upcoming year.
All told, the budget predicts expenditures of $3.86 million ($1.43 million in the general fund) for 2019.
A significant increase will give substantial raises to maintenance workers.
City Administrator Cole Herder noted: Our wages, starting $10.10 per hour, are not competitive and we have a high turnover of worker, leaving for jobs that pay better. We have not been able to maintain a full staff and are in constant orientation and training of new employees.
The proposed increased, which council members embraced, of 15 percent will range from $1.50 to $2 per hour for each of he six maintenance positions.
We currently have only four of six positions filled, Herder lamented.
The wage increase will amount to about $26,000 for 12 months for the six workers, including associated benefits.
Council members seemed a bit stunned by the low wages paid. Mayor Noddy Davis asked Herder to look at increasing the wages this year.
Let me do some more figuring, Herder said, and that might be possible within confines of the current budget for four or five months before 2018 becomes history.
