Bellevue workers get cost of living adjustment

As part of the update for the 2011-2012 mid-biennial budget review process, the Bellevue City Council approved 2012 cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for city employees. Employees had gone without a COLA in 2010 and 2011

January 5, 2012 8:41 pm

As part of the update for the 2011-2012 mid-biennial budget review process, the Bellevue City Council approved 2012 cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for city employees. Employees had gone without a COLA in 2010 and 2011

The COLAs are tied to the federal government’s consumer price index (CPI), which was pegged at 3.7 percent. That resulted in COLAs ranging from 3.3 to 3.7 percent for most city employees in 2012.

Because the CPI was significantly higher than the 1.6 percent the city had forecast, the COLAs will result in an increase of $650,000 for the general fund budget. It’s part of a larger $6.5 million deficit, that the council has been addressing through cost-cutting measures.