BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's elected officials backed a proposal to reward long-term employees Tuesday and said they'll ask the Quorum Court for money.
The Job Evaluation and Salary Administration Program Committee is made up of elected officials, Barb Ludwig, human resources administrator, and Shirley Sandlin, justice of the peace for District 8 and head of the Quorum Court's Personnel Committee.
The panel voted unanimously to increase the base pay of employees by $250 after they complete five years of service, by $500 after they finish 10 years of service, by $750 after 15 years of service and by $1,000 after an employee completes 20 years with the county.
The estimated first-year cost of the proposal is about $260,000, including wages and benefits, Ludwig said. Current employees would receive all longevity pay increases they are eligible for.
"The people at the top will be seeing a $2,500 increase," Ludwig said. The county has 20 employees with 20 or more years of service, Ludwig said.
Longevity pay will be in addition to, not a replacement for, merit increases and cost-of-living pay increases considered by the Quorum Court during the preparation of each year's budget, Ludwig said.
"This is just a little bump to say we appreciate you staying here," Ludwig said.
The committee discussed making the increases optional, with elected officials or department heads making the decision on their employees, but it was agreed to make the increases automatic.
"To me, there's not enough impact to get down into the weeds of who gets it and who doesn't," Prosecutor Nathan Smith said.
Deanna Ratcliffe, reasurer, agreed employees who have been retained for five, 10, 15 or 20 years would be good employees deserving of some additional compensation.
"To me, it's a given," she said. "Once you've been here for that length of time you get it."
County Judge Bob Clinard also said long-term employees have earned the additional pay.
"The longevity pay, I think, ought to be automatic," he said "If you've been here that long you've proven your worth. You're not going to last five or 10 or 15 years if you're not doing your job."
Committee members agreed they will try to persuade the Quorum Court to approve the plan. It's important the elected officials appear in person to show their support when the issue is being discussed by the justices of the peace as it moves through the committee process, Sandlin said.
"You'll need to be there for Personnel and, more importantly, you'll need to be there for Finance," she said of the various committees.
NW News on 06/24/2015