Durham to pay bonuses to city workers

Durham city employs about 2,200 people, and aside form police officers and firefighters, they have gone two years without pay increases because of tight budgets and the slow economy.

City Manager Tom Bonfield included a provision in the fiscal 2010-11 budget to pay the bonuses is the city's revenue and spending outlook looked good enough after six months. Projections call for Durham to end the fiscal year in June $1.2 million under budget.

Workers hired before July 1 who met or exceeded performance standards on their 2010 reviews are eligible for a bonus. The money will be included in their Feb. 4 paychecks, officials said.

Money to pay the bonuses is coming from operating savings and from salaries of unfilled staff positions, officials said.

Durham County also paid workers a one-time bonus.