BAY CITY -- "They are understandably, extremely upset with the way everything has been going," said Bay City Commissioner Lori Dufresne of her Fourth Ward constituents. She has spoken to many of them about $55,000 in raises that have gone to city employees while the government laid off six firefighters and made other budget cuts within the last year.
“We’ve cut so many positions, especially in our fire department and the closing of a fire station due to a lack of funds. Turning around and giving in some cases, a substantial raise is not sitting well at all,” she said.
The most controversial raise was the $7,200 that went to Deputy Manager Steven Black. That raise was rescinded late Friday, but it’s not enough for many who call the issue a case of bad timing at the very least.
Commissioners will meet Monday to ask questions of City Manager Robert Belleman, who oversaw the raises or salary/job reclassifications.
NBC25 has learned the portion of the meeting dealing with the pay raise issue will have a fact-finding tone to it. It starts at 6:30 pm Monday at Bay City City Hall.
