City Finally Approves Wastewater Agreement With Teamsters Union

After a nearly two-month delay, the City of Cortland has finalized a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 317, representing the city’s Wastewater Treatment Facility employees. The approval followed a debate regarding the city’s current fiscal health and the timing of the raises.

Before the vote, Councilmember Brian Tobin questioned the financial status of the wastewater budget, directing his concerns to Director of Finance and Administration Chuck Shager.

Shager acknowledged that while the 2025 fiscal year was projected to see a loss of roughly $250,000, the outlook for 2026 is bolstered by a NYSERDA grant. He noted that this grant money—along with existing budget allocations—is expected to more than cover the proposed wage increases.

However, Tobin remained skeptical, pointing to the city’s immediate financial pressures.

“This agreement is retroactive to January 1, and we’re currently underwater from what I’m hearing,” Tobin said. “I have a hard time—and I’m not sure why Council is being put in a position to vote on an agenda item where we don’t have the funding in place now.”

Mayor Scott Steve rebuffed Tobin’s concerns, stating that the wastewater budget functions like any other line item and that funds have already been set aside for employee compensation. He emphasized that the city spent ten months negotiating the agreement to ensure competitive pay and a solid organizational structure.

The Mayor also warned of the consequences of further delays, noting that the facility has already lost one employee this year to a higher-paying position elsewhere.

Councilmember Pat Lane echoed the need for parity across city departments. “We’ve approved every other department’s contract,” Lane said. “I, for one, do not want to make wastewater the ‘ugly stepchild’ that has to pay the price for everybody else.”

When Tobin countered that he wasn’t asking one department to pay for others, Lane interrupted, arguing that his opposition did exactly that. Tobin maintained that previous contracts should have undergone more rigorous discussion before approval, concluding, “I cannot vote for something we do not have the money to fund.”

Corporation Counsel Randall Lewis provided further clarity on the facility’s anticipated revenue. He confirmed that the NYSERDA grant exceeds $700,000, significantly outweighing the cost of the raises.

Lewis also distinguished the facility’s finances from the city’s broader struggles. While the city faces a $2.5 million General Fund deficit, the Wastewater Fund is expected to see revenues increase by $1 million this year, effectively erasing its previous deficit.

Key Terms of the Agreement:

• Year 1: A 6% to 7% increase, designed as a market adjustment to bring wages in line with industry standards.
• Subsequent Years: A 3% annual increase for the remainder of the contract.
• Retroactivity: Increases are retroactive to January 1, 2026.