County To Debate Bonuses

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s justices of the peace are set to decide on proposed bonuses for employees when the Quorum Court meets tonight.

The bonuses, labeled as “non-recurring salary adjustments,” have been approved by the Finance Committee and Committee of the Whole but not without debate.

Justices of the peace Tom Allen and Mike McKenzie voted against them at the Committee of the Whole meeting with both saying they preferred trying to build raises into the budget if possible and pointing to other demands on the reserve fund. The bonuses, if approved, will come from reserve. Raises would be considered within the annual operating budget.

County Judge Bob Clinard said he expects the bonuses will be approved but wouldn’t say it's certain.

“It’s gone through two committees and been recommended for approval,” Clinard said. “I wouldn’t expect that many votes to change”

Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13, thinks the raises will be approved, but he may suggest a small change. A proposal made at the Committee of the Whole meeting included different dates for those who receive the largest bonus, Moore said.

As proposed by elected officials, 486 county employees hired before Jan. 1, 2012, would receive $1,125. Another 109 hired between Jan. 1, 2012, and Dec. 31 would receive $875 and 18 hired between Jan. 1 and March 31 would receive $250.

An alternative from Jay Harrison, justice of the peace for District 3, suggests smaller bonuses and pushed back the hire date for the largest bonuses to Jan. 1, 2011. Moore said he might favor the original bonuses but with the changed hire date.

Sarah Daniels, comptroller, said the change would reduce what the county will pay by about $20,000. The change in dates would mean 87 employees would receive a $875 bonus instead of $1,125, according to information at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Clinard expects the Quorum Court also will approve a $65,000 feasibility study for a new courts building. The county would pay half the cost of the study with a number of downtown Bentonville interests paying the other half. The study is to examine advantages and disadvantages of building sites on county property on Southwest 14th Street and in downtown Bentonville.

Moore expects the study will provide useful information about the building sites, but justices of the peace will still have to consider how to pay a new building. The county has about $11 to $12 million in uncommitted reserve. The study will take four to five months .

“I think the funding of it is going to be a separate issue,” Moore said. “I expect the price tag is going to be higher than we expect. I don’t think there’s any way to pay for it out of reserves or from future reserves.”