County pay above average (5/12/04)

A study of counties of comparative size has shown that Jay County’s employees are paid slightly better than average wages.

But a few changes in pay grades and structuring have been recommended by a consultant hired by the Jay County Council.

The council, making short work of a thin agenda Tuesday, gave preliminary approval by consensus to several recommendations from Jonna Reece of Muncie-based Associated Payroll Plus.

Also Tuesday, council referred a major tax abatement request from Tyson Mexican Original to the county’s tax abatement advisory committee.

Tyson, which is approaching its 10th anniversary in Portland, is planning to add a new production line at its plant west of Portland. That line will require about $2.2 million in new machinery.

The Arkansas-based company is asking that the new taxes on that machinery be phased in instead of being fully due in the first year.

On the pay plan issue, recommendations made by Reece included a cost-of-living adjustment for 2005 of 1.6 percent, an increase in pay grade for two positions, and a restructuring and resulting pay grade increase for another.

The cost-of-living adjustment, combined with the 2.44 percent difference between each of the 11-steps in the county’s pay plan, would mean a total average raise of about 4 percent for county employees in 2005.

Indiana counties included in the external wage survey included Carroll, Decatur, Franklin, Fulton, Owen, Scott, Spencer, Starke and Sullivan. Overall, Jay County was at the 65th percentile for pay, meaning that more of compared positions were higher than the average than lower.

Members of the council, who oversee the county’s pay plan and personnel policy, likely won’t make a final decision on the changes until preparations for the 2005 budget begin in August.

Reece, who was not in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting, made the following recommendations in regards to individual county government positions:

•Increase the pay grade for the matron of the Jay County Retirement Center to a 9 or 10, from its current pay grade of 7. Reece also suggested that the position currently held by Theresa Smith, wife of superintendent Rob Smith, be called assistant superintendent/social service director.

•Increase the pay grade for cooks at the retirement center to 3 from the current level of 2. That move would bring pay (Continued on page 8)

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equity between cooks at the retirement center and at the jail.

•Create a job title of payroll clerk in the auditor’s office. No employees would be added, but one of three second deputies would become the payroll clerk and be paid at a pay grade 8, up from the second deputy level of 7. Reece said that changes in federal payroll laws and privacy issues related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mean that a limited number of persons should work on payroll issues. Sharon Bentz is currently the auditor’s payroll clerk.

Another recommendation by Reece — the creation of a training officer at Jay Emergency Medical Service — drew a lukewarm response from the council.

Council members Gerald Kirby, George Meehan, Todd Wickey, Jack Houck and Andy Schemenaur agreed by consensus that they wanted more information on the JEMS situation before adding another employee.

All added positions also require the approve of Jay County Commissioners.

Council members Marilyn Coleman and Mark Barnett were not in attendance Tuesday.

Also Tuesday, the council approved an additional appropriation of $1,062.32 to the Jay County Emergency Management Agency to repair a high-pressure hydraulic hose on the Rescue 19 truck.[[In-content Ad]]