Saratoga Springs considering pay increases for employees, elected employees

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City Council, mayor and city employees likely will see their incomes grow this year.

City officials are proposing to use money from the city's surplus to give employees a one-time bonus and a 1 percent cost-of-living increase. The proposal also would double the City Council's monthly stipends from $450 to $900 and increase the mayor's stipend from $675 to $1,500.

City Councilman Bud Poduska said the changes would bring the stipends in line with what other cities pay their officials.

"We're one of the few cities in Utah dealing with a surplus," Poduska said. "We're just trying to catch up now."

High-paid city employees will opt out of the bonus Saratoga Springs is offering so more money can go to those on the lower end of the pay scale, Poduska said. Funds for the cost-of-living increase will be given to department heads to disperse.

The budget will be presented to the council for approval on Tuesday.

— Justin Ritter