New budget means raises for Laf. employees

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - All Lafayette employees can expect a two percent raise beginning in the next fiscal year.

That was one of the biggest pieces of news unveiled with Mayor Tony Roswarski's budget at the city council caucus Wednesday evening.
    
Overall, the budget is slated to be $53.2 million, a 3.49 percent increase over this year.

The mayor says in addition to salaries, health insurance and retirement contributions are the biggest increases.  The only new positions are two new officers hired by the Police Department.

"It's a very lean budget," Roswarski said.  "Many, many line items are exactly the same as they were last year.  We're being very frugal and continue to try to build some cash reserves, make sure we have some rainy day funds, that we keep ourselves in a strong cash position."

Roswarski hopes to add several hundred thousand dollars to the rainy day fund next year.

The Common Council will have a first reading of the ordinance at its meeting Monday, September 10.