DAYTON, Ohio -- The budget debate heats up in Dayton as police and fire unions said they have uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in retroactive raises that have been given to city leaders.

Officials with the union said the back pay raises were given at a time when the city is already facing millions of dollars of debt.

News Center 7 talked with city leaders and officials with both unions and both sides see a different outlook on the issue.

One side said that the pay raises are deceitful, while the other side said it was something that was agreed upon in the union contract.

Union officials said they have discovered up to $200,000 in back pay raises given to city executive managers. The city said the “step raises” were agreed upon in the contract and were bound over to middle management.