BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Bucyrus City Council Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday evening at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers, where important discussions are anticipated regarding proposed raises for nonunion city employees.
During a regularly scheduled council meeting on Tuesday, citizens who typically hold opposing views found common ground on this contentious issue. Bucyrus resident Greg White addressed the council during public participation, expressing his disappointment with the proposed raises and the financial burden they may impose on taxpayers.
White questioned the rationale behind a proposed $4.25 per hour raise intended to cover insurance commission errors, stating, “It’s going to cost the city a lot of money for this. We will not know until March. So us taxpayers are funding this big mistake.” He further criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the issue, noting that important information was communicated verbally by the Safety Service Director and not included in council packets or made available to the public.
Residents will also feel the financial pinch as water rates are set to increase by 15% and sewer rates by 14% starting January 1, 2025. These changes will be reflected on their February bills, with advance notice included in January statements. White noted that these increases are more than persons on retirement Social Security receive in their annual benefit increase, which is 2.5%.
“If approved, the Civil Service Commission pay raises will see commissioners earning $164.90 per meeting, while the clerk would receive $481.42 per meeting,” White said.
Bucyrus resident Clarissa Slater also addressed the council, acknowledging the validity of White’s concerns. “More than one thing can be true,” she stated, acknowledging White for the points he made. She pointed to the city’s decision to switch insurance brokers, which she believes has led to significant challenges. “The city chose to go to a new insurance broker which apparently has bit the city in the butt,” Slater said.
Slater emphasized that the proposed $4.25 pay raise does not equate to equal compensation for equal work in the same way for non-union workers compared to their union counterparts. “It is unfortunate that the taxpayers are being asked to pay for something when it isn’t necessarily needed to provide equal ground and footing moving forward,” she added. Slater told the council she realizes they inherited the problem from a council that kicked the can down the road.
Slater encouraged the council to take a hard look at the manpower document. She told the council the compensation is not fairly distributed across the board and doesn’t save the city money.
Crawford County Now has reached out to Finance Chairman Kevin Myers for comments regarding city finances, staffing, and levy plans, but has yet to receive a response.
Tonight’s committee meeting will also address other pressing finance-related issues, including elected officials’ salaries, the street levy renewal, fire department staffing, and options related to a failed levy. Crawford County Now will continue to monitor and report on this developing story.