The fiscal year 2022 budget continued to be the top priority for Emporia City Commissioners during their recent study session Wednesday.
During its latest review of the upcoming budget, commissioners were informed that City Treasurer Janet Harouff had removed the previous proposed two percent annual pay increase and 2.5 percent merit increase for all staff from the city’s five-year budget plan at the request of commissioners. Mayor Rob Gilligan stated last month that he was in favor of increases for all staff, however, he felt it needed to be an annual discussion.
In place of the proposed increases, the city has instead budgeted for a $1 per-hour wage increase for all employees for 2022.
In separate, but related, business, commissioners also discussed the creation of a new public information officer position for the city. Commissioner Jon Geitz stated he was not in favor of creating the position at this time as he feels the city first needs to review its current organizational chart.
The proposal was made to simply fold the responsibilities of the PIO into another role, however, Gilligan stated he was against this idea due to a possibility of staff burnout. Commissioners may conduct a review of the city’s organizational chart at the start of next year after they have seated a new commission, following the general election in November, and located a new City Manager following the retirement of Mark McAnarney later this year.
A public hearing for the budget will be held Sept. 15. The budget must be approved for publication 10 days in advance of the hearing.
In other business, commissioners were presented with the annual Convention and Visitors Advisory Board request. This year’s request was for a total of $365,000 for fiscal year 2022. During the conversations, CVAB proposed the city consider altering its current allocation format to CVAB from a grant allocation to a sponsorship agreement.
CVAB Chairman Greg Jordan says the new format would seek to give the proper “fanfare” to all entities involved in large-scale community events.
When or if the proposed change could occur is still up in the air, however, current hopes are that it would take effect in the coming fiscal year. If the new format goes into effect, the city would simply renew the sponsorship agreement on an annual basis.
Discussions on the potential sponsorship agreement are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The Emporia City Commission will next convene for an action session next Wednesday at 7 pm inside the Municipal Courtroom at White Auditorium.
