July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Council plans 3 percent pay hike (08/02/07)
Jay County Council
By By TRAVIS MINNEAR-
Most full-time workers employed by Jay County will receive a 3 percent pay raise in 2008.
The decision to increase wages came Wednesday evening during a special meeting held by Jay County Council leading up to annual budget hearings next week. Council members approved the proposed increase at the recommendation of Reece Consulting, Muncie.
Council President Marilyn Coleman said the 3 percent jump is composed of 2.44 for "longevity" and .56 for an increase in the cost of living.
"Three percent is what we told the departments to turn in. That's the max we would go," Coleman said.
Members also unanimously approved a flat $750 salary increase for employees not listed in the pay plan. Some of these workers include the county engineer, probation officers, public defenders and elected officials such as council members and commissioners.
Township assessors in Wayne and Richland townships also received $750 raises. Those in Bearcreek, Greene, Jefferson and Penn townships got $200. Jackson, Noble and Pike townships, $150. Increases in Knox, Madison and Wabash townships were approved for $100.
At the request of the sheriff's and highway departments and Jay County Emergency Medical Services, starting pay for new employees will increase from $9.99 to $11.01 per hour plus the cost of living in 2008. According to department heads, the raise is needed to ensure qualified workers are hired and retained.
"We want more money because we want quality people working at the Jay County Sheriff's Department," Sheriff Ray Newton told the council.
"It goes the same way with the highway (department) and medics, you want quality people."
Current employees in these three areas of public service that do not already make the newly established minimum will have wages bumped to that amount next year, Jay County Auditor Freda Corwin said. Workers earning that amount will see pay rise to the next grade, equaling $11.39 plus the cost of living increase.
The sheriff's department also received permission to make some pay changes for specific personnel and shuffle some duties among its members.
The council unanimously agreed to allow the position of jail officer/dispatch to change to jail commander, with an accompanying salary increase from pay grade eight to 10.
Newton said the position will also entail expanding duties on the job.
Corwin said it depends who is appointed to the position to determine how much the raise and pay rate will be.
An additional sergeant position also will be created at the sheriff's department, with a pay increase from grade 10 to 12. The dollar amount will be dependent on who is appointed to the position.
The sergeant will be promoted from within the ranks of current deputies, Newton said. The position also will entail scheduling and administrative responsibilities to allow chief deputy Rob Bicknell to focus on monitoring convicted sex offenders.
A new head of a drug task force also will be created, Newton said, with a salary increase from grade 10 to 14.
Council members denied Newton's request to up the number of weekly employment hours for sheriff courthouse employees from 35 to 40. The proposal died without a motion. The sheriff said these employees need more hours because of increased workloads that include filing more sheriff's deeds, gun permits and general paperwork.
Councilman Gerald Kirby, a former sheriff, said he might have favored the measure if it were a matter of public safety.
"I'm liberal as heck when it comes to the police officer on the road," he said. "But I'm not nearly as liberal when it comes to the paperwork."
Two Jay County Retirement Center employees also received salary increases for 2008. Superintendent Rob Smith will have his salary increased to $32,656 plus the cost of living, Corwin said. It was $30,721 in 2007. Jarod Clark, head of maintenance, will make $22,615 plus the cost of living during the upcoming year.
The council struggled to devise a method for increasing wages for part-time county workers. Members said they, along with Corwin, would crunch numbers and come back during budget hearings next week with a comprehensive plan.
Jay County Council has until Aug. 22 to make changes and finalize its budget, Coleman said.[[In-content Ad]]
The decision to increase wages came Wednesday evening during a special meeting held by Jay County Council leading up to annual budget hearings next week. Council members approved the proposed increase at the recommendation of Reece Consulting, Muncie.
Council President Marilyn Coleman said the 3 percent jump is composed of 2.44 for "longevity" and .56 for an increase in the cost of living.
"Three percent is what we told the departments to turn in. That's the max we would go," Coleman said.
Members also unanimously approved a flat $750 salary increase for employees not listed in the pay plan. Some of these workers include the county engineer, probation officers, public defenders and elected officials such as council members and commissioners.
Township assessors in Wayne and Richland townships also received $750 raises. Those in Bearcreek, Greene, Jefferson and Penn townships got $200. Jackson, Noble and Pike townships, $150. Increases in Knox, Madison and Wabash townships were approved for $100.
At the request of the sheriff's and highway departments and Jay County Emergency Medical Services, starting pay for new employees will increase from $9.99 to $11.01 per hour plus the cost of living in 2008. According to department heads, the raise is needed to ensure qualified workers are hired and retained.
"We want more money because we want quality people working at the Jay County Sheriff's Department," Sheriff Ray Newton told the council.
"It goes the same way with the highway (department) and medics, you want quality people."
Current employees in these three areas of public service that do not already make the newly established minimum will have wages bumped to that amount next year, Jay County Auditor Freda Corwin said. Workers earning that amount will see pay rise to the next grade, equaling $11.39 plus the cost of living increase.
The sheriff's department also received permission to make some pay changes for specific personnel and shuffle some duties among its members.
The council unanimously agreed to allow the position of jail officer/dispatch to change to jail commander, with an accompanying salary increase from pay grade eight to 10.
Newton said the position will also entail expanding duties on the job.
Corwin said it depends who is appointed to the position to determine how much the raise and pay rate will be.
An additional sergeant position also will be created at the sheriff's department, with a pay increase from grade 10 to 12. The dollar amount will be dependent on who is appointed to the position.
The sergeant will be promoted from within the ranks of current deputies, Newton said. The position also will entail scheduling and administrative responsibilities to allow chief deputy Rob Bicknell to focus on monitoring convicted sex offenders.
A new head of a drug task force also will be created, Newton said, with a salary increase from grade 10 to 14.
Council members denied Newton's request to up the number of weekly employment hours for sheriff courthouse employees from 35 to 40. The proposal died without a motion. The sheriff said these employees need more hours because of increased workloads that include filing more sheriff's deeds, gun permits and general paperwork.
Councilman Gerald Kirby, a former sheriff, said he might have favored the measure if it were a matter of public safety.
"I'm liberal as heck when it comes to the police officer on the road," he said. "But I'm not nearly as liberal when it comes to the paperwork."
Two Jay County Retirement Center employees also received salary increases for 2008. Superintendent Rob Smith will have his salary increased to $32,656 plus the cost of living, Corwin said. It was $30,721 in 2007. Jarod Clark, head of maintenance, will make $22,615 plus the cost of living during the upcoming year.
The council struggled to devise a method for increasing wages for part-time county workers. Members said they, along with Corwin, would crunch numbers and come back during budget hearings next week with a comprehensive plan.
Jay County Council has until Aug. 22 to make changes and finalize its budget, Coleman said.[[In-content Ad]]
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD