By Diane M. Moore
VERNON
– Members of the Vernon City Council met in special session Thursday,
September 30, to discuss retroactive pay of City Clerk Tracy Walker and
Deputy Clerk Michelle Cross.
The
council faced push back from Walker and Cross in July after approving
pay for public works employees but not for those in administration,
although Mayor Candace Hodges stated the council intended to look at
raises for the administrative staff while developing the new budget.Â
Walker
advised the council she found funds in the 2020-2021 budget to allow
for the retroactive pay. “While closing out the final budget, I
discovered enough funds to pay the retroactive pay,” said Walker. “It
can be done without having to budget it into next fiscal years budget.”
Notably,
Walker states the funds were made possible by lower than expected
expenditures for the public works department over the past year, as well
as a revenue increase in the general fund through state shared tax
disbursements coming in at a higher total than anticipated. Council
members approved the payment in a unanimous vote.
The pay is retroactive to May, which brings the date of the new pay rates in line with those given to public works employees.
 The total for both Walker and Cross’ retroactive differential pay is $2,267.
Staff Report 
Jim Saunders