Worthington City Council approved a $24.1-million budget Dec. 5.

The final budget was approximately $155,000 less than the one presented by city manager Matt Greeson in October. The savings were primarily in health care costs, he said.

The original plan called for a 33-percent increase in health insurance costs for city employees. That amount came to $658,000.

By offering employees lower cost options, the city was able to decrease the bottom line by approximately $130,000.

Fifty employees chose to purchase a lower cost, high-deductible plan, and nine chose to accept a $200 monthly payment for switching to a spouse’s insurance plan.

The city had always offered more traditional insurance plans.

“We thought this was the responsible thing to do,” Greeson said.

The budget also included 2-percent raises for nonunion city employees.

That breaks with a tradition of offering non-union employees salary increases equal to those of police officers, who will receive 3-percent raises in 2012.

“We’re consistent with what is being offered in the suburban marketplace and within what we can afford,” Greeson said.

Worthington firefighters will each receive a $1,000 payment instead of a traditional raise next year.

The city manager and department heads will also receive 2-percent raises. Their new salaries are:

• Matt Greeson, city manager, $133,955.

• Molly Roberts, director of finance, $96,186.

• Darren Hurley, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, $96,186.

• David Groth, director of the Department of Public Service, $100,443.

• Lori Trego, assistant to the city manager/personnel director, $77,165.

• Tanya Word, secretary to the city manager, $54,781.

• Robyn Stewart, assistant city manager, $101,805.

• Bill Watterson, city engineer, $100,443.

• Barbara Nofziger, court clerk, $52,766.

• Robert Chandler, administrative assistant/service department, $50,159.

• Mike Horvath, assistant to city manager/information technology manager, $77,165.

• Anne Brown, administrative assistant/public information and community relations officer, $63,387.

• Don Phillips, chief building inspector, $86,254.

• Mike Minister, director of law, $115,898.

• Jeffry Harris, assistant to city manager/economic development director, $88,868.

cbrooks

@thisweeknews.com