Council approves raises, funding for Bay City firefighters

By Mike Reddell in The Bay City Tribune
City council restored funding to the Bay City police and fire departments and approved an overall 3 percent pay adjustment for city employees in a sweeping budget amendment unanimously passed at council’s regular meeting Thursday night.

Because of projected lower revenues, city officials tabled funding requests totaling $294,000 last summer to balance the 2009-10 fiscal year budget. Those requests included programs and gear for the police and fire departments as well as money for the recycling program.

But lower than expected capital costs and savings in other areas allowed the city to restore about $214,000 of that funding and left about $80,000 in reserve to cover contingency costs, such as Texas Municipal League insurance coverage for the city.

The budget amendment also includes new bunker gear for firefighters. Gratzer noted money for the bunker gear continues the city’s previous funding for that equipment. “The city has been buying bunker gear.”