Plans to increase wages among city employees were recommended at a city of Madison committee meeting Wednesday night, but at a cost.
Despite the recommendation for a wage increase, council members also included a new additional health insurance deductible, which would add extra expense for employees.
City employees will now have to pay the first $500 of medical expenses, when previously they did not have to pay deductibles.
The city will offset this with a 2.25 percent increase in wages to all city employees who are not firefighters, police and bus drivers.
The city normally increases wages by a meager amount each year. In 2015, it was only 0.75 percent.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the plan, which Mayor Paul Soglin proposed, comes amid efforts to reduce city spending on health care. In the past, the plan has been very generous, Verveer said.
Soglin said the decision to push for the wage increases stemmed partly from talks with labor associations that now lack the power to collectively bargain due to Act 10, which prohibits collective bargaining.
He said he believes the proposal will be well received by the City Council.
Verveer agreed with the mayor and said the council will have no problems with the proposal.
The new wages will likely be accepted by city employees, Verveer said, though he acknowledged they won’t be “jumping for joy.”