City Manager Joseph Scherer tonight recommended including a 1 percent cost of living increase to the proposed fiscal year 2013-2014 financial plan.

If approved by council, the increase would be for all city employees, Scherer said during the governing body’s work session.

The recommendation comes via KapStone’s tax value increasing by $88,000, he said.

He said he is also recommending the removal from the budget of the installation of a new traffic light, and instead reallocating the estimated $52,000 for two new pickups for public works.

Public Works Director Larry Chalker said this evening the department is currently three trucks down.

Meanwhile, Scherer also recommended the exclusion of a knuckle boom truck for the public works department and instead allocating that $132,000 for several other capital projects for the department.

Under the proposal, Chalker said that money would be used for a new roof at the truck wash bay; a new piece of equipment to dig graves at the cemetery and a compact motor grader for alley maintenance and snow removal.

In another matter this evening Scherer announced that police Chief Jeff Hinton’s contract expires on May 16. Hinton has been serving as interim chief as Major Tommy Hathaway is groomed for the position.

Fire Chief Stacy Coggins said the city’s new ladder truck would be dedicated by a wet down ceremony before the beginning of the May 31 Friday in the Park concert.

A wet down ceremony is where other fire departments commission a new truck by spraying it with water.

The fire department will have an open house at 5 p.m. before the concert at Centennial Park.

The truck is two weeks away from delivery.