Grants Pass City Workers Turn Down Pay Raises

GRANTS PASS -- Even though the raises are in the budget, a group of Grants Pass city employees says higher salaries would be unseemly.

Members of the Grants Pass Employee Association have told city officials they'll forgo 2.5 percent cost of living adjustments due with the new year.

Association leaders say the members looked at the overall economy and the layoffs among major local employers and decided they didn't want their friends and neighbors to see them as grabbing money.

The decision is expected to save the city at least $87,000.

Assistant City Manager Laurel Samson said nearly 100 employees have decided not to take raises, including some supervisors who usually get the same percentage increase as association members.