MEMPHIS — Police and fire employees will receive a 2 percent raise in the fiscal year 2016 budget approved by the Memphis City Council.
The budget approved in a council vote Tuesday also calls for a 1 percent raise for all other city employees. The raises take effect Jan. 1.
According to the city, the $656 million budget includes $3.1 million for raises proposed by Councilmen Reid Hedgepeth and Edmund Ford Jr. The raises will be funded from unfilled vacancies in various divisions of city government.
The budget includes funding for new recruiting classes for the police and fire departments. It also includes funding for public safety technicians to relieve police officers from minor accident calls.
Mayor A C Wharton Jr says he's pleased the funds for the raises were found.