Commissioners consider pay raises for employees
All county workers, even elected officials, would receive increase
By SCOTT REESE WILLEY
Bee-Picayune staff
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posted Aug. 8 -
What a difference a year makes.
Last summer, Bee County commissioners were pulling their hair out searching for ways to make ends meet. They considered slashing jobs and cutting services and ended up adopting a budget that was $875,000 in the red.
This summer, they’re eyeing pay raises for employees and funding 100 percent of the longevity pay that was cut in half last year.
And instead of $875,000 in the red, they’re hoping to go into the new fiscal year in the black.
The county’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Commissioners discussed the pay raises during a budget workshop on Wednesday. The workshop was recessed until Thursday so that commissioners could find out how much tax revenue they could expect to have on hand this coming fiscal year.
“We’re going to try to do something for our employees this year, do the best that we can, “ said County Judge David Silva, who assumed office in January 2007 and presided over last year’s budget deliberations.
“I can’t give them a 10 percent pay raise, of course, but we’re going to try to do something,” he added. “We want to restore some of the things we cut last year, but we’ll have to hold the line elsewhere.”
The proposed pay raise also would be given to elected officials.
Commissioners discussed the 3 percent salary increase during Wednesday’s workshop but on Thursday wondered if it wouldn’t be better to give employees a 5 percent pay raise and just keep the longevity pay at 50 percent.
The longevity pay is designed to keep employees working for the county. The pay is handed out each December.
Although the commissioners court is discussing budget increases, they are also mindful of growing costs.
“Our number one priority will be and remains to have a balanced budget for 2008-2009,” he said.
County Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez said he supported a pay raise for employees but reminded his fellow commissioners that the county is paying interest on the bonds that paid for the Expo Center improvements and will begin making principal payments in 2010.
County Auditor Susanna Morón said the proposed pay raises take the bond payments into account.
Commissioners also considered increasing the travel fund from $6,000 to $9,000.
Rodriguez asked the court if another $1,000 could be earmarked for the upkeep of the flower beds around the county courthouse, the Veterans Memorial Plaza and the Justice Center.
He said the money would be used by the local Garden Club, which tends to the rose garden and other beautification projects around the courthouse.
During the 2 1/2-hour budget workshop on Wednesday, commissioners took a close look at some departments. They discussed cutting the budget of some departments and increasing funding to others.
One of the first departments discussed was the county jail.
Morón said $305,000 earmarked for the county jail budget has been slashed.
Those cuts include a $65,000 fire alarm system, a $170,000 video camera surveillance system and $60,000 for two vehicles.
The sheriff’s office also may see budget cuts of three vehicles.
Apparently, the sheriff’s office will finance the new vehicles with money from its forfeiture fund and abandoned motor vehicle fund.
The sheriff’s office auctions off abandoned motor vehicles each year.
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