All city employees may see a 6.5 percent pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Casper firefighters union negotiated a 6.5 percent raise earlier this year and city staff recommends the same for all employees.

The pay raise is one of the many budget items the Casper City Council heard during its first budget meeting on Thursday.

City staff also recommended creating five new staffing positions. The cost would be minimal because most of the new positions are part-time jobs that will transition into full time.

Without the pay increases, additional staffing or proposed projects, the city of Casper has nearly $7 million excess money in its general fund for use in fiscal year 2009.

If all city employees receive a 6.5 percent raise, it will be about $1.6 million from the excess general fund.

Health insurance for city employees is expected to rise 7 percent in the coming year both for the employees and the city.

Most of the rest of the city's expenses remained similar to those in 2008 except fuel and utility costs, which are on the rise.

The city will pay more than $600,000 in energy bills for the streetlights this coming year, a roughly $50,000 increase from 2008.

Sales tax revenues are 7.9 percent higher than anticipated, which helps the city's coffers.

The city also has about $5 million for fiscal year 2009 and $5 million for fiscal year 2010 from the State of Wyoming.

The council may discuss the possible expenditures including curbside yard waste pickup and staff raises in its meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com