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Bom U4 Pis,4® <br />Sheriff Gary Wheeler sensed that Director Baird was not aware <br />that the step raises would be excluded from his budget if the <br />County provides a COLA increase for all County employees. He would <br />also reduce court security, which would reduce the Sheriff's budget <br />by $483,000. <br />Director Baird explained, and Administrator Chandler confirmed <br />that they were aware of the Sheriff's suggested alternatives but <br />were following the Board's direction to present alternatives to <br />provide a COLA increase for all County employees. <br />Sheriff Wheeler emphasized that if there is COLA raise for all <br />County employees, he would cut the step raise for his employees. <br />Director Baird further explained that there is no surplus in <br />our budget, and he and Administrator Chandler had a difficult time <br />looking for ways and means to provide a COLA increase for all <br />County employees. <br />Commissioner Bird was concerned about security at the <br />courthouse being cut. <br />Sheriff Wheeler explained that there will be bailiffs, the <br />courtrooms will be secure, but there will be no monitoring of the <br />x-ray machines, no information officer, and no roving security <br />personnel. Deputies will accompany the prisoners. <br />Commissioner Eggert asked whether staff calculated the cost of <br />a 3 percent COLA raise, and Administrator Chandler advised that it <br />would take $962,494 to provide a 3 percent pool of funds, which <br />would call for an increase in taxes. <br />Discussion ensued regarding ways of providing raises to the <br />County employees and how step programs and salary levels would be <br />affected. <br />Director Baird stated that with the information from Sheriff <br />Wheeler about reducing the courthouse security and cutting the step <br />raise, he could calculate the millage rate. He pointed out that <br />the Board must authorize Administrator Chandler to certify that <br />millage rate. <br />Administrator Chandler agreed that he now has the necessary <br />information and will review it and make a recommendation to the <br />Board for a COLA raise for all County employees. <br />Commissioner Bird could not imagine opening the Courthouse <br />without adequate security. <br />Discussion ensued regarding the security provided at the <br />Courthouse as well as the cost of school resource officers. <br />Sheriff Wheeler felt that the school resource officers are <br />imperative because there are 2,000 students and some of them are <br />armed. A school resource officer gathers intelligence to prevent <br />July 19, 1994 <br />114 <br />M <br />M <br />