Something is amiss at City Hall. One day, pay raises that will cost about $312,000 are approved. Days later, the same people who voted for the raises are saying they’re looking for ways to cut back on spending — and possibly personnel.

The raises are across-the-board, not merit- or service-based. Most city employees, excluding the fire and police department employees will see a raise, thanks to city leaders. The leaders themselves — Mayor Paul Winfield, North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman — also will see a bump in pay.

Soon after adopting the raises, though, Beauman said the city’s 550 employees are too many. Maybe he’s right and maybe he’s not.

Either way, though, why build up the employees with raises one week and knock them down days later with news that employees are looking down the barrel at “streamlining,” “realignments” or whatever you choose to call them.

That’s simply not good business sense.

At best, it is poor planning.

In these down economic times, raises are fewer and further between in the private sector than they were during the dollar days of the 1990s and the earlier years of this decade. The president of the United States said just last week that he was freezing federal employees’ pay raises for at least two years. It’s a national thing.

So what should the city’s three elected officials have done?

Wait. Figure it out first. Get out of the instant-gratification mindset that appears to have taken over this land.

Then do what is appropriate and what the city can afford — plan first.