Washington County pay raise, health benefits tabled

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Quorum Court tabled two controversial issues -- a proposal to give employees a salary increase and one reducing health care insurance benefits for some employees -- during the Quorum Court meeting Thursday.

About 135 people packed the Quorum Court room to talk about how low pay and possible increases to health insurance costs for some employees will impact them. Both proposals were tabled until next month.

In other business

Two justices of the peace questioned Washington County election commissioners about whether the $135,000 in equipment approved Thursday also will go to setting up a voting center at the University of Arkansas. At least one justice of the peace said her constituents are against a center at the university. The commission plans to make a decision on creating a new early voting center at the university at 1 p.m. today.

Source: Staff Report

Inter-local agreements

Justices of the peace tabled two inter-local agreements between the county and two cities — Prairie Grove and Goshen.

Source: Staff report

Maj. Randall Denzer, jail administrator, said he was disappointed when the insurance item was tabled. He wanted to see action while employees were able to attend the meeting, he said.

The two issues -- salaries and health insurance -- are intertwined, employees and officials have said. The change to insurance has been compared to a pay cut for some employees, unless salaries are increased significantly.

The grade range for positions needs adjusted, salaries must be increased to retain employees and health insurance benefits must be preserved, employees said.

"You talk a lot about how important the county employees are," said Juliet Richey, Planning Department director, during time set aside for public comment. "If you really feel like we are that important, then don't take away (from us.)"

Employees are paid about 7 percent below market, according to information from Blair Johanson, the county's consultant. The county must come up with about $820,000 to make its insurance plan solvent, said Nelson Driver, risk management consultant for the county.

Decisions on how to adjust the health insurance must be made by Oct. 1 at the latest, said Lindsi Huffaker, human resources director. Open enrollment starts soon, she said.

The county judge makes the final decision on the insurance adjustments, County Attorney Steve Zega said.

The proposal discussed Thursday is a change from previous versions of health insurance changes. It increases the amount the county contributes from $411 to $466, documents show.

Other changes include changing the deductible from $345 per calendar year to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for families, documents show. The in-network out-of-pocket threshold for individuals and families would be raised from $1,000 to $3,000.

Justices of the peace said the changes may translate to a smaller salary increase. The previous proposal had no increase to the county, documents show.

Justice of the Peace Lisa Ecke asked employees whether they would support a millage increase. Ecke is a Republican representing Springdale east of U.S. 71B, south of Emma Avenue and north of U.S. 412.

Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison, a Democrat representing south-southeastern Washington County, said she would support raising the rate by five-tenths. Harbison questioned whether the county can afford multiple projects without a millage increase.

Needs in the county include addressing the juvenile justice system, roads, a parking deck and deteriorating buildings, justices of the peace have said. On Thursday, justices of the peace passed legislation to pay $135,000 for more election equipment and about $24,000 for machinery for building and grounds.

The county expects to bring in about $61 million in new revenue next year. That number may change, Treasurer Bobby Hill said.

This year's budget was about $63 million.

"We have more needs than we have money, so we have got to decide if our employees are important, we've got to decide if our children are important, we've got to decide if our roads are important," Harbison said. "I think our No. 1 priority needs to be bringing the county employees' salary up to market value."

NW News on 08/19/2016

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