Published: September 04, 2008 09:57 am         

City wage proposal more than adequate

Goshen’s 2009 budget proposal was unveiled by Mayor Allan Kauffman, and he somewhat apologetically offered pay raises that do not keep pace with inflation.

But coincidentally, on the same page in Saturday’s newspaper that the city’s budget plan was reported, some Monaco Coach Co. employees were given notice that their jobs may be over at the company.

Instead of being concerned about 2 percent pay raises, Goshen city employees should be thankful they are employed.

Teacher contract talks in the Wa-Nee school district are on hold. Enrollment is dropping, which affects how much revenue is supplied to the schools. Wage freezes or teacher layoffs are a possibility.

Instead of worrying about paying additional money for health insurance premiums, Goshen city employees should be grateful for their still very low insurance costs.

After a tornado roared through southern Elkhart County last year, businesses were damaged and destroyed in Nappanee. The city’s assessed value dropped, which means Nappanee municipal employees won’t be getting a pay raise in 2009.

Goshen has thankfully avoided major damage by Mother Nature. Not since 1997 — the year of the “gustnado” — has there been widespread damage to the city.

Although there is a tendency to see the glass as “half empty” during budget time, there are plenty of reasons why Goshen workers should have a favorable view of their wages and benefits.

The situation may change next year with the phase-in of tax caps. Goshen officials should start planning now for this eventuality. Most businesses don’t get a year’s warning of impending drops in revenue. However, city workers shouldn’t have a reason to oppose this year’s wage proposal.