In an effort to avoid paying cost-of-living wage increases, Monterey city council members voted yesterday to cut 7 positions and approve pay amendments. Council members decided to lay off 5-full-time and 2-part-time city workers, while also reducing 2 other full-time positions to part-time positions. The council also voted to approve amendments with all other employee groups that would postpone their pay raises, a move that would reportedly save the city $670,000 during the coming fiscal year. 209 city employees are expected to be affected by the pay raise postponement. The 4% cost-of-living raise was due July 1st and is now being deferred to June 16th of 2012.
