City workers receive 5-percent pay increase

GLUCKSTADT—City employees saw a five-percent cost-of-living increase on the first of this month as part of the 2025 budget approved last month.

Mayor Walter Morrison noted that this is how raises were implemented last year rather than on the anniversary of an individual employee’s employment and that it is easier for the City Clerk’s office to do them this way.

The raise was approved unanimously by Gluckstadt aldermen in a 5-0 vote at their Sept. 13 meeting following a motion by Alderman John Taylor and a second from Alderman Jayce Powell.

The approved budget projects the city will bring in a total of $11,542,595 in revenue, with total expenditures forecast at $8,419,228.

The city approved the budget without raising taxes. The millage rate is 12 mills for the general fund, the same as last year.

The millage rate was discussed at a special meeting on Sept. 6 that served as a public hearing on the millage rate.

Alderman Wesley Slay proposed they raise the millage rate by four mills. He said a smaller increase now could avoid a jump in as many as six or eight mills in the future.

Slay motioned for the raise and Taylor seconded his motion. Ultimately, the item could not be voted on because the advertisement for the hearing did not mention the possibility of a tax hike. 

A competing proposition to keep the millage rate the same was motioned by Alderman Lisa Williams and seconded by Powell. The motion passed unanimously.