9/15/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SEP J5 Ml" Boa 87 Due to financial constraints, a cost of living adjustment was not included In the proposed budget. For the 12 month period ending in July, the inflation rate per the consumer price index was 3.2%. Funding to continue the step program adopted in 1990 is contained in the proposed budget.- An employee is eligible annually for a 5% adjustment on their anniversary date until they reach the top of their prescribed range. Longevity adjustments, as provided in the fire contract, are not included. Of the 583 non contract positions, 103 employees are at the top of their range and therefore, not eligible for an increase. A significant number are non supervisory personnel. An all fund total of $334,952 has been provided for the step program. An alternative would be to defer the step program for a year and implement an across-the-board adjustment. The funds proposed for the step program are equivalent to 2% if applied to all non -contract employees. Such an adjustment could be implemented October 1. Another alternative would be to continue the step program at a reduced rate next fiscal year and apply the differential to all employees. Within the funds provided, the step rate could be reduced from a 5% to 2% adjustment. The resulting differential would amount to a 2% across the board adjustment, if implemented effective January 1. Consideration of a longevity plan similar to Fire was requested at the July meeting. Next fiscal year, 107 non . contract individuals will have been employed by the County over 10 years and would be eligible for longevity if instituted. Considering the funding, if the step rate were reduced from 5% to 3% next year, a 3%, 10 year longevity rate could be implemented. There are 18 employees at the top of their range with less than 10 years service, who under this alternative would not be eligible for any increase since it does not contain an across the board adjustment. In considering the various factors relating to the preceding alternatives, it Is my recommendation to implement for next fiscal year the 2% reduced step plan and 2% across the board adjustment effective January 1. Although this plan will not be satisfactory to everyone, I believe it will maintain the basic integrity of the step plan while providing some adjustment to all employees. Conditions permitting, in FY 93/94 1 would- anticipate restoration of the step plan and consideration of longevity. Administrator Chandler noted that this is a follow-up to the discussions at the July budget hearings when the Commission requested that we look at alternatives to the across the board salary increases and bring them back for consideration. For next fiscal year, he recommended that the Board implement the 2% reduced step plan and 2% across the board adjustment effective January 1, 1993. He stressed that $344,952 is budgeted and any alternative chosen by the Board today would not exceed that amount. Commissioner Bird asked if we would be going back on anything that had been promised, and Administrator Chandler advised that if we were to go with the 20 and 20, it would maintain some of the integrity of the step program that was implemented.in 1990. The only labor agreement we have at the present time is with the fire fighters who have a step program, longevity, etc. 34