Nearly 100 Key West Employees Received Extra Salary Hikes Beyond Budget

Commissioners to review and vet budget at final workshop on Thursday.

Nearly 100 City of Key West employees received additional salary increases this fall — on top of raises already built into the city’s 2026 budget — sparking new questions about transparency in City Hall spending.

City records show 93 employees across multiple departments were given extra 4–6 percent pay bumps in September, despite the fact that the June budget already included step and cost-of-living increases.

Among the biggest shifts: the City Manager’s Office payroll grew by nearly $59,000, with senior administrators and managers each receiving thousands more than budgeted. The city’s senior property manager alone saw nearly a $5,000 increase between June and September.

Commissioners and the public will have the opportunity discuss the budget and get explanations during its final budget workshop tomorrow.

Raises Across the Board

The September salary file reflects raises for positions in departments ranging from Public Works and Parks & Recreation to IT, Finance, and Code Compliance. Police and Fire also saw significant payroll growth — though their salaries were not listed individually in the September file, they were rolled into lump-sum totals.

Departments with additional raises included:

• Public Works (12 positions)

• Parks & Recreation (9 positions)

• Utilities (15 positions)

• Police (18 positions)

• Fire (14 positions)

In addition, commissioners, the mayor, and the city clerk’s office each recorded increases beyond June’s budgeted amounts.

Where the Money Came From

Observers note the raises coincided with cuts to other budget categories such as training, travel, and consulting. That suggests the city quietly shifted money into payroll to cover the new salaries.

“It’s a shell game that hides the real payroll growth,” one budget watchdog said, noting that because department totals did not change, commissioners could have easily missed the redistribution even though the higher salaries create long-term obligations that will continue to grow in future budgets.

Impact on Residents

The extra payroll costs add pressure to the city’s general fund, which depends heavily on property taxes. With millage rates rising, both homestead and non-homestead property owners are expected to see higher bills.

Critics say layering raises on top of already-approved increases undermines public confidence in the city’s budget process and could be part of a concerted push for the city manager to garner support in City Hall across departments.

Why This is Important

Key West’s June budget already included step and cost-of-living raises for every employee, but city records show that between June and September an additional 4–6 percent was added to many salaries — effectively doubling the increases. To fund the adjustments, Barroso reduced line items for training, travel, reserves and other categories.

What’s Next

City Manager Brian Barroso has not yet explained why the additional raises were granted or why Police and Fire salaries disappeared from the September salary file.

The final budget workshop will begin at 5:05 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 11, 2025. Public comment is welcomed, and the meeting will also be live streamed.

The biggest question: Will residents be fully informed of the city’s spending plan.

Look for an expanded breakdown in the morning.