Board Backs 3% Raises for All County Employees including Sheriff's Office Employees

At the final BCC budget hearing this evening, a compromise was brokered to offer all employees a 3% pay increase--including Sheriff's office employees.

Tonight's budget meeting went largely as planned and according to the scripted agenda, with affirmative votes to maintain the millage rate static at last year's rate.  We voted for our total budget of close to $456 Million, an increase of roughly 4.5% over last year's budget of $437 Million.  We recognized about $158K in adjusted revenue added to the total budget, and we approved an add-on I brought to utilize $3.74 Million in recurring revenue to provide 3% across-the-board raises for all County Employees, Clerk's employees, Supervisor of Elections employees, and Sheriff's office employees.

Doug Underhill brought a plan to give the entire pot of newly uncovered recurring revenue to the Sheriff's office--to fully fund Sheriff Morgan's 8% budget increase request (8% over last year's budget allocation).  This idea received no traction and was summarily set aside by the board.

Commissioner Robinson wanted to fund 2% raises across the board for all employees of the ECSO, BCC, Clerk's Office, and Supervisor of Elections office--with the remaining funds to be sent to Sheriff Morgan with the intention that he plus up the pay for patrol deputies.  After some discussion, this plan also failed to gain traction.

The fact that we found additional revenue with which to provide raises was a surprise--we had been told there would be no raises for anyone in any of the departments or constitutional offices--including the Sheriff's office.

My add on, above, was approved this evening by a 3-2 vote, with Underhill and Robinson voting no

I'm glad we were able to work through the process and find a compromise that rewards all of our employees with a 3% pay increase this year.  Going forward, we will work to address the compression issues that plague the Sheriff's office (and the other constitutional offices).  This problem did not develop in one year, and will take many years and lots of hard work to properly address.  I'm confident we can tackle it.