Finance Committee To Look At County Bonuses

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s Personnel Committee voted 4-1 Monday to send proposed employee bonuses on to the county’s Finance Committee.

Justices of the Peace Shirley Sandlin, Rey Hernandez, Jay Harrison and Barry Moehring voted in favor of the proposal. Justice of the Peace Tom Allen voted against it.

County Judge Bob Clinard presented the plan to the Personnel Committee, and several of the county’s other elected officials spoke in support of the idea.

“All of the elected officials have agreed that this is something we need to do,” Clinard said.

At A Glance

Proposed Salary Adjustment

Benton County’s elected officials proposed a “nonrecurring salary adjustment” for county employees. Under the plan presented by the elected officials, the 486 employees hired before Jan. 1, 2012, will receive $1,125. The 109 employees hired between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012, will receive $875 and the 18 employees hired between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2013 will receive $250. The bonuses will cost the county $808,281, with $527,222.91 coming from the General Fund reserves. The salary adjustments would increase the county’s General Fund budget by 1.9 percent.

Source: Staff Report

Clinard said county employees are underpaid and the bonuses, while they won’t correct that problem, will assure the employees the elected officials are aware of their situation and are trying to do something.

“I think we need to tell them we think you do a good job and we appreciate you.” Clinard said.

Allen said county employees aren’t alone in being underpaid.

“I agree they’re underpaid,” Allen said. “I’m underpaid. Everybody is underpaid and everybody wants to make more money.”

Allen said the justices of the peace need to look at the county’s benefits package — not just wages — when considering compensation.

“The benefits package here at the county is excellent,” he said. “It’s better than what you’ll find at most companies.”

Allen said county employees did receive a 2 percent raise in the 2013 budget, to make up for an increase in federal withholding. He said that is more than many private sector employees received and shouldn’t be forgotten.

“They just got a 2 percent raise and some people are acting like it’s an insult,” Allen said. “It’s not. I’m afraid the days of the 4 and 5 percent raises are gone.”

County Assessor Bear Chaney said county government is a service to the people and the employees are the providers of that service.

“We are here to serve the public and we do,” Chaney said. “I think the employees should be compensated.”

Circuit Clerk Brenda DeShields told the justices of the peace her office is losing employees to private businesses that pay more and offer benefits. County Treasurer Deanna Ratcliffe said the employees and elected officials have worked hard to “do more with less” and produce the annual turnback money that builds the county’s reserve fund.

“I don’t understand why we’re saying the money isn’t there,” Ratcliffe said.

Sarah Daniels, the county’s comptroller, said Benton County has about $18.6 million in reserve, with about $6 million of that being required by state law. Daniels said the county has earmarked some of the remaining reserve for road work and other items but still has about $12.5 million in unallocated reserves.

Some of the justices of the peace asked about merit raises, so the most deserving employees could be rewarded accordingly, Clinard said the elected officials, department heads and employees all expressed a preference for a proposal based on tenure with the county, with employees receiving a set amount based on the date they were hired.

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