The Denver City Council on Monday granted initial approval to temporarily eliminating the employee-bonus program this year and capping merit raises at 2.25 percent.
Mayor John Hickenlooper asked the council to make the move as part of his effort to close a projected $56 million budget gap for spending this year.
The issue will come up for a final council vote next Monday. By eliminating bonuses and limiting merit raises, the city would save $9.9 million, according to estimates from the Hickenlooper administration.
The move only affects those city employees who aren’t in the public-safety sector. But the administration also is asking firefighters, police officers and sheriff’s deputies to accept cuts.
The administration has asked the three unions representing the safety workers to reduce their negotiated contracts by 2 percent. Doing so would save the city $4.9 million, according to the administration. The unions still are studying the request.
Christopher N. Osher: 303-954-1747 or cosher@denverpost.com
