The City Council discuss possible pay raises.

An early Christmas gift may be on the way for some city employees.

This morning at the City Council work session meeting, the Council addressed employee raises, pay bands and paving the roads of The City of Meridian. "I think that we're in a mode of where the council has made a reasonable decision about the pay that raises and that's for everybody. And I think they're going to vote on it on the next board meeting,” stated Mayor Jimmie Smith. The council discussed a potential increase in the salary for the city employees in the amount of $1,200 and a$1,800 for the police department. “So, this would give the city employees across the board $100 a month raised police department to get $150 raise per month. This would enable we can do this within the present budget. We have as far as maintaining this for next year,” said City Council member George Thomas. Mayor smith says although the council did not make a vote today, he is happy with the direction things are flowing.

"I think this is the proper approach that they're taking because they're looking at the entire city employees and that's important. And I think that's important. And they also given the police a raise, which was a compromise, I think in both the administration and the council. So, I think it's working well.” Thomas who is a part of the city council says the main purpose for the raises for the police department is to maintain the force they have now as well as enticing potential police. "You're well aware in the police department, we have several vacancies. So hopefully this will increase the opportunity to hire more Police Officers, plus maintain the police officers we have now, we'd rather keep the personnel we have. We don't want them leaving for more money somewhere." The City Council is due to make a vote on Tuesday at the next meeting.