2002-142-RES EXPRESS POSITION OF CITY COUNCIL ON REFERENDUM BALLOT FOR PAY RAISE FOR FIREFIGHTERS

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RESOLUTION NO. 2002-142 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, EXPRESSING THE POSITION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON A REFERENDUM BALLOT FORA PAY RAISE FOR FIREFIGHTERS; URGING PARTICIPATION IN SAID REFERENDUM BY ALL QUALIFIED CITY VOTERS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, a petition has been filed with the City of Paris pursuant to Sec. 141.034 of the Local Government Code seeking pay raises for City of Paris firefighters; and, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris, Paris, Texas, has certified said petition and called an election pursuant to law for consideration of the pay raises proposed; and, WHEREAS, the City has analyzed said petition and finds and determines that the pay referendum as proposed would result in a weighted average 24.07% pay raise increase per affected firefighter; and, WHEREAS, the pay raise proposal as presented and if implemented would result in additional salary expenses beneficial only to firefighters of$507 ,627 .25, equivalent to an additional $.05031 increase on the ad valorem tax rate; and, WHEREAS, at the same time that the proposed pay raise would be implemented, the City of Paris is faced with significant shortfalls in revenues from sales tax, franchise taxes, and other sources, and at the same time is attempting to alleviate a severe space shortage in the Police and Municipal Courts Building by funding the capital cost of purchasing and building a new Police and Municipal Courts Building; and, WHEREAS, the proposed pay raises for the firefighters are not only excessive and unjustified, but are proposed at a time when the City of Paris financial situation already dictates major adjustments in services or taxes; and, WHEREAS, the City Council ofthe City of Paris has stated publicly and reaffirms its belief that all employees of the City of Paris are important to the success ofthe services provided thereby, and all employees are entitled to be treated as fairly and equitably as possible with regard to pay and working conditions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS: Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things approved.