Richmond council faces decision on raises for retirees

Richmond City Council could decide Monday between giving a 1 percent raise to city retirees and squirreling away funds to weather the stormy economy.

The council's Finance Committee made no recommendation today as it forwarded to the full council a proposal to spend $2.2 million in leftover funds from fiscal 2006-07.

Of the total, $1.8 million would go toward a 1 percent cost-of-living increase for retirees, while nearly all of the rest would help fund school-system operations.

City Council, which has supported a 1.5 percent increase for retirees, is scheduled to vote on the proposal Monday.

City finance officials said they're bracing for state budget cuts from $3 million to $5 million but they also said it's unclear how much of a hit city revenues will take.

For details, see tomorrow's Richmond Times-Dispatch.

-- Will Jones