(BEDFORD) – Bedford Mayor Sam Craig asked city council members to consider giving city employees a stipend.
Mayor Craig was advised by several department heads that employees were asking about whether they could receive a stipend like Lawrence County employees were given.
Mayor Craig told council members that each city does everything different based on how they would administer a stipend and various dollar amounts given to those employees.
The city cannot give out any stipends until the first of the year because it would require a public notice.
City of Bedford employees a total of 160 full-time employees and 7 part-time employees.
The city council members did not make any decision on Monday evening and there were other concerns on how the city is yet to be impacted by COVID-19 and the loss of tax revenues. The biggest impact on the budget may not be felt until 2022.
The budget for 2021 is already in place and Local Income Tax funds pay for four salaried positions for the Bedford Fire Department and funds a total of five positions of the Bedford Police Department.
The Bedford Fire Department has a total of 38 employees with one office person. The Bedford Police Department has a total of 44 positions when its is fully staffed. The Bedford Police Department has two vacancies at this time.
The local income tax revenue for 2021 is expected to come in at approximately $1.9 million. Local income tax revenue fell is expected to fall in 2022.
No final decisions were made Monday evening and the city council will look at this at a later time.
