Pleasant Hill City Council Approves Budget, Delays Filling Empty Council Seat

A slight bump in projected sales tax revenue, and cuts in employee benefits helped the Pleasant Hill City Council approve a two-year budget of $41 million, though property taxes are expected to remain flat, according to a story in the Contra Costa Times. 

The budget includes projections of increased sales tax over the next few years as the economy is expected to recover, and new businesses come on line. The city saved $1.8 million in increased employee contributions to health care and other benefits. Officials are still negotiating with the police union over a new contract. 

Additionally, the council decided to delay filling outgoing council member Terri Williamson's seat until the election in November. It was felt that appointing a person to fill the seat in the interim would give that person an unfair advantage in the November election.