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Raises, travel on table
Published Monday, July 27, 2009
Whether or not to grant county employees annual raises and how to manage travel and commissioner’s discretionary funds were key issues at the Pike County Commission budget hearing Monday.
The commission held its second budget hearing in preparation for the 2010 fiscal year budget, which starts Oct. 1, and these topics monopolized the discussions.
While county employees are guaranteed an annual 3-percent raise, as part of a personnel policy, the commission may amend that policy this year.
“I would like for us to see about changing that policy so there’s not a guarantee for us giving a raise every year,” said Commission Chairman Robin Sullivan.
No action was taken on the issue Monday, but Sullivan wasn’t the only commissioner supporting a way to avoid what have become automatic annual raises for county employees.
“I think we need to do something different because if we can’t afford a raise and already have the policy in force (when we find out) we can’t afford it, we could probably be liable for it,” said District 1 Commissioner Homer Wright.
“And with sales tax down, it could get worse. It could get better, but if it gets worse we’re going to be right back where we were borrowing money.”
District 3 Commissioner Jimmy Barron said the policy should be amended to allow commissioners to approve the step raises annually, rather than being a guaranteed part of the budget.
“I think we ought to terminate this (guaranteed pay increase) policy and (have) it come back to the commission’s discretion to give a raise when we can afford it,” Barron said.
“The county commission doesn’t have a reserve. If we have one disaster come through this county, we are in bad shape.
“We have outstanding employees, the problem is, can we afford it?”
District 5’s Charlie Harris said while raises are something he thinks the commission could afford in the future, it is worth considering taking a step back in light of economic times.
“This is just one year. We’re not the only ones cutting back,” Harris said.
But, District 4 Commissioner Ray Goodson said he would not vote to amend this policy.
“The 3 percent is what these employees have earned,” Goodson said. “And the 3 percent doesn’t come up all at one time. That 3 percent on their anniversary, they know they’re going to get that.”
With county raises, the commission’s proposed General Fund budget would still have excess revenues of $148,000, and if the commission moves forward with its proposal, the budget would gain around $177,000.
With hundreds of thousands needed in road repairs across the county, Barron said he worries even this won’t be enough.
“It won’t take but one bridge to fall again, and where are we going to get the money?” Barron said.
Commissioners asked County Administrator Harry Sanders and County Attorney Allen Jones to draft a proposal to amend the personnel policy, a move that will be considered in the next commission meeting Aug. 10.
The commission also discussed lowering its own discretionary money, funds each commissioner has to allot to agencies within Pike County or to offset travel expenses.
“If we vote that way, the commission does not need a discretionary fund,” said District 6 Commissioner Karen Berry.
After granting themselves a $27,600 total expense account last year, the commission decreased the total to $6,000 in proposed discretionary money for next year’s budget.
They also granted commission office employees $4,000 in travel expense for those who need continuing education to maintain certification.
Nothing discussed in the hearing will become final until the commission passes its budget.
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Comments
Posted by excedrin (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can you all honestly tell your employee's that you "can't" afford to continue the step raises? That is just as selfish as the school system. Pay big money to persons who do nothing and throw temper tantums on the little man. Many employee's have to work long hours for little pay, not to mention putting up with the immaturity of some supervisors. The only bright light some days is the small increment of pay on their anniversary. I have yet to see any of the commissioners offer to take a pay cut to afford the budget more money for repairs and salary increases. Why should the employee always have to suffer? Whichever commissioner from the district below Walmart area needs to get in touch with his people! He has yet to make neighborhood visits. I have a few things I'd like to discuss.
Posted by REDAY (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
excedrin,good luck with the visit. I live in district # 6 and I'm still not sure that I have anyone to represent me. The one clown that lost originally,never thought he needed to visit the people in order to get elected,and thats the egos that claim to want to help us with the everyday problems that we incur trying to get to work on these dilapidated roads,so we can make more money that they can put in "THEIR" discretionary FUNDS. I ask everyone in the county,to be at the commision meeting on Aug. 10th,and demand to be told where the money is being spent. There's also the question of how much of the 7.2 billion the OUR COMMisioners have aplied for so we CITIZENS can get broadband?
Posted by TroySunshine (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed Excedrin and REDAY! The County Employees are having to give up there annual raise and for what........to have family coverage insurance go up, to have there uniforms taken away, for many many emplyees to have to do more than 1 mans job and not get the pay, work long hours, etc..... Listen people, I know that times are tough and everyone is having to cut back but my point being there is only so much that our county emplyees can give up. More money is coming out of there pocket with little to nothing going back in. All right commissioners, if your going to cut our county employees throats, I want to see you cut your own!
Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know what job or business each commissioner has but I do know that most have a living income other than the commission salary .These men were elected to lead , yet as has been pointed out here they sit discussing not giving county employees raises while everything they purchase is going up . Why don't they refuse their salary while times are hard , just keeping enough for their expenses , and let that worker who may have to work in the broiling sunshine get their raise . To me that's LEADERSHIP .
Posted by WDM (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't look for any of them to refuse their salaries,that is why when a politician tells me he/she is running because
they want to help the people I laugh in their face.
Posted by elvis2 (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WDM you sure got that right . It's always in most cases "follow the money". Another pet peeve I have is the ones who take off their suit coat and roll up their shirt sleeves and think that makes them one of the guys .
Posted by borntoolate (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say one thing for those Commissioners wanting to change the policy - it will effect them also. Their anniversary raises will be cut too, and they do realize it.
Posted by JuneBug (anonymous) on July 29, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't get a raise last year and my employer told us we are not getting one this year either. Maybe if the commissioners didn't get a raise they could relate to us better.
I don't believe it's fair to cut funding to school systems and give the commissioners raises. Where are their priorities?
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