Ypsilanti City Manager Ed Koryzno has a two-year contract extension, but at least one member of City Council questions whether that’s enough.

The council unanimously approved the extension Tuesday. Koryzno has held the city manager’s position since 1996. The extension includes a salary of $98,625, the same as his previous five-year contract. Koryzno also receives a benefit package and use of a city-owned vehicle. He is also eligible for furlough days.

“I’ve grown fond of the community, and I’d like to see it through these tough financial challenges,” Koryzno said.

Council Member Brian Robb raised concerns about the length of the contract. He said Ypsilanti could face a dire financial situation in two years and, if Koryzno were to leave, then council would be better off choosing a new city manager now.

“In a matter of two years, we will have burned through our Water Street surplus and, depending on what happens with the state, the financial situation will be much different,” Robb said. “If we’re looking to hire, if we brought someone in now, that person would have two years to implement some kind of change.

“This has nothing to do with Ed’s performance, but I’d be much more comfortable if he wanted a four-year contract instead of two years.”

Koryzno said his children are grown and have left home, so he no longer has them to consider for the first time in his professional career.

“I don’t know what the future will hold or what options I will have, but I don’t want to sign on for a longer time than I would possibly stay,” he said. “This is not dissatisfaction with the city, it’s just being honest.”

Mayor Paul Schreiber, who said during last year’s campaign that Koryzno was the best thing to happen to Ypsilanti in the last 10 years, said he is pleased to have Koryzno return.

“I think that since we’ve got such a great city manager we should take advantage of his experience as long as possible,” Schreiber said.

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach The News desk at 734-623-2530. For more Ypsilanti stories, see our Ypsilanti page.