The city’s spokeswoman has received a permanent upgrade to a title she received on an interim basis last fall.

The promotion comes with a 13.5-percent raise for Debbie George, who has been named the city’s chief of staff. Her new salary is $118,120.

She took the position on an interim basis in October, when former chief of staff Sherry Hunt was assigned to oversee records retention and management related to the new E-911 call center and municipal center.

In George’s new position, she will manage the daily operations of the city manager’s office and oversee the departments of Social Services, Libraries, and Media and Community Relations.

She also coordinates the City Council docket and agenda review, as well as complaints and complaint resolution.

She will continue to act as the city’s spokeswoman, she said.

Hunt has been named intergovernmental affairs and special projects manager and received a 3-percent raise to $115,360. Her raise was equivalent to the 2-percent raise plus 1-percent Virginia Retirement System increase all employees received.