Benton Countgy Panel Backs Employee Raises

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s Personnel Committee on Tuesday endorsed giving employees raises, but left the amount of the raises undetermined.

The committee voted unanimously for the raises. The recommendation will be sent to the Finance Committee, which is considering budgets requests. The Finance Committee was asked by the Personnel Committee to consider “a significant increase” for employees in the form of merit increases.

Elected officials have said they're seeking raises for employees up to 7 percent, which would cost about $2.1 million.

Sarah Daniels, comptroller, told the justices of the peace during their first budget meeting revenue for 2014 is expected to top $47 million. Operating cost is projected to be just more than $45 million, leaving about $2.1 million, Daniels said.

Daniels said elected officials cut their budget requests to build a cushion for raises. Department heads and elected officials also submitted capital equipment requests of about $2.2 million for departments getting money from the general fund and road fund.

“The Personnel Committee needs to send a recommendation that we need to do something for the employees,” Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4, said during the discussion. “I don’t want to set any threshold that we can’t meet. I think we can come up with 2 percent easily, so I would like to see us recommend at least the minimum of a 2 percent COLA and urge the Finance Committee to adopt a significant increase for merit pay.”

The justices of the peace discussed adopting limits or guidelines for distributing the money for merit raises, but took no action. Shirley Sandlin, justice of the peace for District 8 and head of the Personnel Committee, said historically, elected officials are left to determine how to award merit pay.

“Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the elected officials to see to it that their staff is treated as fairly as possible,” Sandlin said.

The committee also recommend the Finance Committee consider raises for elected officials, leaving out the justices of the peace. The panel recommended the Quorum Court enact the increases the Quorum Court adopted in 2012 to increase the pay of the county judge and sheriff from $84,731 to $88,054, and the pay of the county clerk, treasurer, collector, assessor and circuit clerk from $78,811 to $81,901.

The panel also recommended the Finance Committee consider a raise for the coroner from $67,655 to $71,000.

The committee’s vote on elected officials raises was 5-1, with Barry Moehring, justice of the peace for District 15, voting against. Moehring said he believes elected officials deserve the raises, but doesn’t favor increasing their pay during their term of office.

The Personnel Committee also discussed several requests for personnel and reorganization plans that could raise personnel costs by $500,000. The committee was still considering those requests at deadline.

What’s Next

Benton County's Budget

Benton County’s Finance Committee is working on the 2014 budget. The committee’s next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Quorum Courtroom in the County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville.

Source: Staff Report