Cuyahoga Falls city employees who have not had a pay raise since the recession of 2008, may be rewarded for their sacrifice in January. Thanks to an unexpected estate tax payment, Mayor Don Robart says if city council approves, the employees will get a late Christmas gift.

The Mayor tells AkronNewsNow " We did get a one-time windfall this year where a lady passed away and her inheritance alone, our portion came out to be over a million dollars. We felt that in light of the fact that our employees had forgone so many opportunities for more remuneration we felt it was only fair to reward them in that fashion.

Robart says each full-time employee would receive a one time check for $3,500. " It is a supplemental income adjustment. It will be a one time deal, and it will be in January, and for that they're going to bypass negotiations for two years, so the city benefits, and I think the employees benefit," says Robart.

Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Robart by Larry States

The legislation if approved by city council also provides for the council clerk and council members with a supplement payment of $1,250 each.

Cuyahoga Falls like many other cities in Ohio and across the nation has been forced to tighten its financial belt due to declining tax revenues caused by the recession and accompanying job losses and business cutbacks and closings