Workers get 3 percent pay raise (08/09/06)

With little to do in the way of big cuts in the county's spending plan for 2007, virtually all of the attention on the opening night of budget hearings was focused on raises for county employees.

After sometimes lengthy debate, members of the Jay County Council approved an average 3 percent increase Tuesday for virtually everyone who draws a county paycheck.

The council, which will close out preliminary budget hearings tonight after its regular August meeting, OK'd increasing each pay level in the county's pay plan by 2.44 percent. The council also approved a .66 wage increase. That means that all county employees who are part of the pay plan, which is the majority of hourly workers and non-elected department heads, will receive an average 3 percent raise.

Also seeing a 3 percent increase in 2007 will be elected officials (except township trustees), full-time hourly and salaried employees or contract workers not covered by the pay plan, and part-time hourly employees in several different categories.

The issue of the trustees' pay is likely to be discussed tonight.

Jay County Auditor Freda Corwin told council members to open Tuesday's hearing that $210,000 needed to be cut from locally-controlled tax funds to keep an operating balance (cash reserves) of $1.2 million.

Because budget salary requests exceeded the 3 percent raise granted, the reduced salary amounts will have the effect of trimming a chunk of that $210,000.

Councilwoman Judy LeMaster urged the council to consider individual situations which she felt the levels of pay were unfair - including highway superintendent, at least one of the county trustees and at least one courthouse officeholder.

But even though several categories (pay plan, elected officials, those outside the pay plan) were voted on individually, the council chose not to make exceptions within those categories.

"I hate to get in the pick-and-choose business ... that's not our job," council member Gerald Kirby said.

"If you're elected, it's the job of the voting public to judge," Jim Zimmerman said.

LeMaster, a former county recorder and treasurer, lobbied for higher pay for highway superintendent Ken Wellman, noting that Wellman makes about half the salary of county engineer Dan Watson ($65,000 to $32,000).

Despite requesting an increase of about 18 percent in his budget, Wellman was granted the same average 3 percent raise as others in the pay plan.

LeMaster's was the lone vote against a motion granting an across-the-board 3 percent pay increase to all employees outside the pay plan.

LeMaster also said she believes that at least one township trustee position (Jefferson) should draw a higher salary mainly because of the large number of assessments required at Paradise Pointe RV Resort Inc.

LeMaster also expressed frustration at increasing the salary of the Jay County Treasurer about a month after the commissioners agreed to allow an outside firm to be hired to handle personal property tax billing and collections.

"There are some officials that are in their office less, they're out-sourcing more work, and yet we continue to give them the same increase ... I don't know," LeMaster said.

Council members also voted 4-2 to deny funding for a part-time deputy director position with Jay County Emergency Management. The deputy director has historically been a volunteer position, with the slot currently filled by Jim Bruner.

Ralph Frazee, director of emergency management, received permission from Jay County Commissioners to request $3,500 to compensate Bruner hourly for his time.

Frazee said that when he is out of the county or unavailable, Bruner takes control of operations of the office, including giving instructions to the administrative assistant.

Several members of the council said that language in the administrative assistant's job description implies that person should serve in the director's absence.

Council members Marilyn Coleman, Todd Wickey, Zimmerman and LeMaster voted to deny the funding, while George Noble and Kirby voted to approve it. Coleman, who did not vote on other motions, cast the fourth and decisive vote to deny the funding.

A majority of the total council, or four votes, is required to pass any formal motion.

Also included and approved in Tuesday night's budget requests were a $500 increase in the amount given to the Jay County Fair Association ($2,500) and a $5,000 increase in the amount given to Jay County 4-H for fair-related expenses.

Jay County Commissioners include those two amounts in their budgets. Jay County 4-H will now receive $8,000.

The commissioners' budget, which is just over $2 million, is the largest chunk of the general fund.

The commissioners, who did not request an increase in the amount paid by the county for employees' health insurance, requested about $47,000 less for 2007 than was include in this year's budget.

The commissioners also included a one-time grant of $25,000 to the John Jay Center for Learning building fund drive. The commissioners give $25,000 in support to JJCL each year.[[In-content Ad]]