Improvement in the economy after years of austerity has led to a discussion of whether the city of Statesboro should give its employees a 2.5 percent raise instead of a smaller raise and another one-time bonus.Toward the end of Monday’s all-day budget work session, City Manager Frank Parker addressed the mayor and council on the state of the current, fiscal year 2014 budget and the outlook for the 2015 budget, which will open July 1.“We will increase our reserves in the general fund and most of the enterprise funds this year,” Parker predicted.The 2015 general fund budget he suggested shows a slight, about $6,000, reduction in spending from this year’s budgeted amount, with expenditures and revenues for both years rounding to $13.7 million. The general fund amounts to a little more than one-fourth of the city’s total budgets, which for the current year total more than $51 million.The projections also showed general fund revenue contracting by about $10,000, despite marginal growth in tax revenue, because of declines in other revenue sources, such as permits and fines.But Parker predicted that the city will be able to conclude the current fiscal year with about a $550,000 reserve in its general fund and should grow the reserve to about $600,000 next year. Fee-based funds, such as those of the natural gas, water-wastewater and solid waste departments, have their own reserves.Noting that the general fund has been the area of greatest struggle, Parker mentioned that cuts had been made in the budget as presented for council’s consideration.