9/15/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

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_ M Commissioner Bird stated that he has made arrangements with the OMB Director to return his salary increase which is determined by the State because he didn't want to go back on his word of what he had said at the budget workshops about an across the board increase. Commissioner Scurlock had a problem with the whole thing. He has constantly said that -we need to look at the employees at the low end of the payroll because a 2% raise to someone making $13,000 a year in Buildings & Grounds or Road & Bridge does not amount to very much compared to a 2% raise for those employees making $30,000-$50,000. The proposed plan gives a 2% increase across the board, including the division heads who are making approximately $50,000-$60,000 a year. He felt we should set a cap where anyone making $50,000 or over would not get an increase so that the pool of money budgeted for increases is split between those making under that amount. He felt the employees and managers at the high salary range are getting fat because it is no longer true that you work for government for less money than paid by the private sector. In addition, many of the higher level employees receive a $275 monthly car allowance and some do not even use their vehicle. It is a fringe benefit; it has nothing to do with the use of that vehicle. He felt the $344,952 pool of funds should be distributed to those people making less than $50,000 with special attention given to those people at the lowest level. He emphasized that some of our County employees could qualify for welfare programs but do not because they choose to work. They are good employees, but they are barely making enough to pay for the basic needs of food and housing. Needless to say, they have no disposable income. Administrator Chandler advised that in looking at the step plan and the 103 employees who are at the top of their range, we found that a great percentage of those employees were field personnel, mostly in Road & Bridge, and that was taken into consideration. Commissioner Scurlock stated that his concept is basically adjusting the minimum wage for the lower levels. Administrator Chandler emphasized that his idea has been strictly from a standpoint of an equitable adjustment - equitable in terms of the times and the ability to do so. Commissioner Bird asked if we have the ability in-house to look at the income of our lower level employees, and if justified, make some adjustments. Administrator Chandler advised that we can do that and bring it back to the Commission. However, if we are to make an adjustment at the low end of the salary ranges, we need to do so 35 SEP