Proposed Cd'A budget has 2 percent cost of living raise

Coeur d'Alene Finance Director Troy Tymesen told The Press Wednesday that the city's preliminary 2015-16 budget includes a 2 percent cost of living increase for city employees.

In addition to the cost of living increase, the budgetwhich will be voted on at the conclusion of a public hearing on Sept. 1, was created anticipating approximately $426,656 in merit-based pay increases. Those increases, Tymesen said, are dependent on satisfactory reviews.

He said the maximum percentage the majority of employees could receive as a merit raise is 5 percent.

Department heads have the ability to earn as much as 8 percent in a merit raise. Tymesen added that only three department heads are eligible for merit raises. The rest of the city's employees tasked with running departments have reached maximum merit raise levels during their long tenures with the city.

The city is also obligated to pay up to 7.5 percent of any increase to its employees' medical insurance.

Tymesen said the exact increase in medical insurance cost is unknown at this time.