Fenton committee backs forwarding 2.5% employee pay increase to board

A committee of the City of Fenton Board of Aldermen voted Dec. 12 to forward the proposed 2025 budget to the full board with a recommendation that city employees receive a 2.5% pay increase.

The recommendation followed extended discussion over competing proposals for raises. Alderman Ralph Cruts proposed reducing a previously modeled 4% projection to 2.5% to match recent cost-of-living measures and suggested either a straight 2.5% across the board or a pooled flat-dollar distribution split among staff. Cruts said he favored a pool system used several years ago but ultimately made the motion for the 2.5% increase "based on their income," including employees who have "topped out." Alderman Hules seconded the motion.

Supporters argued the 2.5% figure tracked inflation indicators and ensured all eligible staff would receive an increase; staff identified 21–22 total positions and noted 8 employees had formally reached top-of-range pay. Opponents and other aldermen pressed for more detail on the financial math and whether the budget packet properly reflected the number of eligible employees and the total payroll impact.

City finance staff said the proposed change would be reflected in the full-board budget packet and that the committee vote was to forward the budget for final action. The committee also discussed alternative distribution methods that would direct more dollars to lower-paid employees while preserving percentage-based increases for supervisors.

The committee’s action is procedural: the full Board of Aldermen will review and formally adopt the budget at a subsequent meeting.

The committee additionally directed staff to provide clearer payroll and eligibility breakdowns before the board takes final action.