The Portage City Council held a special meeting on October 29, 2024, to discuss key budgetary issues, including employee compensation and adjustments to the Human Resources budget.

One of the primary topics was the longevity pay for a city employee, which was initially proposed at $1,925. However, it was noted that the employee's full-time service was only 10 years, which would reduce the amount in accordance with the city's salary ordinance. This ordinance stipulates that employees with 10 years of service should receive a longevity pay increase of approximately 2.25% of their base wage. The council expressed concerns about aligning the proposed longevity pay with these guidelines.

Additionally, the Human Resources budget saw an increase of $15,000, which had been omitted in earlier proposals. This adjustment raised the overall budget amount under consideration. The council also voted to include an IT system administrator position in the budget, which will be offset by costs from a service provider. However, there remains a gap of approximately $6,000 to $10,000 that needs to be addressed to fully compensate for this position's salary.

The meeting also touched on wage increases for the clerk's office, particularly for the deputy position. Initially, a uniform raise of 2% was expected, but it was revealed that raises could vary between 2% and 6%. Furthermore, the council is retaining an independent consultant for the budget at a cost of $20,000.

Overall, the discussions highlighted the council's efforts to ensure that employee compensation aligns with city policies while managing budgetary constraints. The next steps will involve finalizing these budget adjustments and addressing the remaining compensation gaps.