With the start of the 2023-24 fiscal year quickly approaching, the Princeton City Council — in their new workspace — spent Monday night tying up loose ends on the previous 12 months behind a laundry list of actions.
At the top and effective July 1 was a unanimous approval to add the June 19th, or Juneteenth, federal holiday to the city’s schedule of benefits. This joins alongside New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve as the 12 such reprieves available to employees.
Furthermore, council members readily agreed on a second reading of the proposed 4% COLA increase for its city employees, granting improved wages for administration, police, public works, fire and code enforcement — including part-time labor.
The only two positions not to see a raise in 2023: mayor and city council members. Brock Thomas will make $42,500, while six sitting councilmen and councilwomen will make $300 a month.
It’s worth noting, too, that effective July 1, volunteer firefighters of Princeton will receive compensation based on individual participation. Fire calls will pay $35. Fire drills are $30. False alarms are $12.50. Motor vehicle and rescue responses are $30. And any fire calls or motor vehicle/rescue responses lasting longer than two hours will result in extra compensation of $10 per hour, calculated at no less than 30-minute increments.
This is all part of a $5.261 million budget for Princeton that was also approved on second reading Monday. City Clerk Julie Poole noted the Department of Local Government had approved Princeton’s first reading and draft, and there has been no pressure for changes.
In other city council news:
— Thomas informed the council that Spectrum Mid-America will soon be on its way with fiber internet connections to the city limits.
— Following the year’s closing statements, council members approved an amendment to the 2022-23 fiscal year budget. Its margins saw increases in net profit tax of $228,600, a host of increased general fund expenditures totaling more than $200,000, and a $7,000 increase in both municipal road aid and road construction materials.
— The City of Princeton also allowed for the surplus of two vehicles: an old Dodge Charger to the Lyon County jailer at a $4,000, as well as a trade-in of an Isuzu Street Sweeper for a replacement.
