Tensions flared at Monday’s budget work session after the city asked unions to consider deferring 2026 pay increases, prompting strong objections from police and fire representatives who called the proposal “insulting” and urged council to address deeper financial issues. Councilmember Frye later apologized for not stopping a verbal attack on Finance Supervisor Heather Stewart, who defended her role and pointed to ongoing overtime overruns. The revised budget presented Wednesday did not include the proposed pay freezes.
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