Hutchinson City Council took the following actions unanimously at its Dec. 19 meeting.
LICENSE: Approved issuing an intoxicating liquor license for The Wine Lounge at 8 Main St. N. The licensed area will include the establishment and a patio area on the back side of the building.
COMPENSATION: Approved a resolution to replace the current compensation plan. The 2024 compensation plan suggests a 6% adjustment to the pay grid rates, based on research by the wage committee. Administration said this adjustment is in response to public sector pay grid shifts in 2023 that were higher than the initially implemented 4%. The plan recommends a 1% “catch-up” contribution and a 5% market adjustment to total the 6% shift. The market increase only applies to employees whose pay falls below the minimum of the pay grid as of Jan. 1, 2024.
ENTERPRISE FUNDS: Approved the proposed budgets for the city’s enterprise funds. The funds will transfer $870,000 of profits into the general fund. Without these transfers the city tax levy would need to increase by an additional 10.6%, according to Finance Director Andy Reid.
BUDGET: Approved the 2024 levy increases such as; city property tax at 7.2%, EDA at 5.7% and HRA at 3.1%.
