Town of Welsh employees will soon be receiving a cost-of-living increase and two extra paid holidays.

The Welsh Board of Alderman on Tuesday unanimously approved a $1.50 per hour cost-of-living raise for the town’s 17 full-time and part-time employees. The increase does not include police officers or council members.

Employees were also granted two extra paid holidays for Juneteenth and Veterans Day.

The cost-of-living increase is effective June 8. Employees will see the increase in their June 23 paychecks, according to Town Clerk Eva Kibodeaux.

The recommendation for the increase comes at the request of Mayor Karl Arceneaux to help employees try to keep up with the rise of prices related to inflation.

“We had inflation at 7 percent the last few years, so that’s 14 percent,” Arceneaux said. “Somebody making $15 an hour, would need about $2.25 an hour to just catch up with inflation, so this is not even catching up with inflation.”

Arceneaux said he thought about giving the increase based on percentages, but said employees at the bottom of the pay scale would get 75-cents and those at the top would get $3.

“This would give everybody the same amount,” he said. “I think they all need it. These guys working at the water plant and maintenance department are the bread winners of their households, so this will help them.”

The cost-of-living increase is expected to cost the town $70,000 more a year including insurance, according to Arceneaux.

Alderman Clint Hardy favored the cost-of-living increase, saying it will help the town keep employees and boost morale for employees who work hard over long hours to provide services that residents need.

“If you take care of your employees, they take care of  you,” Alderwoman Jackie Balmer added.

Alderwoman Andrea King also asked the town to declare Juneteenth and Veterans Day as a paid holiday for the town employees. Both holidays are already state holidays.

King’s motion was seconded by Alderman Ronnie Hayes and unanimously approved by the board.

“That is just making it even more attractive to work for the town of Welsh,” Balmer said.

With the board’s approval, employees will now have 13 paid holidays a year. Employees also have 5 to 40 sick days and 10 to 20 annual vacation days, both depending on how long the employee has been with the town. All employees also receive one personal day a year.