Benton County opposes overtime pay rule

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials are adamantly opposed to new federal rules requiring the county to pay some employees overtime.

"This is an overreach," Jay Harrison, justice of the peace for District 3 said Thursday.

The Quorum Court voted unanimously in favor asking Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas' attorney general, to consider filing a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block the implementation of the new guidelines, which are set to take effect Dec. 1.

Barb Ludwig, human resources administrator, said at an earlier meeting the new guidelines raise the minimum threshold for full-time salaried workers to $47,476, nearly double the current level. Ludwig said the county probably has 15 to 20 employees who could be affected by the changes. Ludwig told the county's Personnel Committee on Tuesday her current estimate is the new regulations would cost Benton County about $58,000 over a full year.

The resolution endorsed by the Quorum Court asks Rutledge to consider taking legal action to stay the implementation of the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor final rule pending a review of the financial and operational impact for employers and personal and financial impact on current salaried employees. The resolution will also be sent to the Association of Arkansas Counties and to the state's U.S. representatives and senators.

County Judge Bob Clinard said the rule affects the county financially and in its relations with employees.

"It not only costs us more when we have to pay overtime, it puts us at odds with our employees by limiting their work," Clinard said.

The justices of the peace also approved transferring $2.8 million from last year's budget into the capital projects fund. The fund had a balance of $1.3 million before the transfer and about $4.1 million after the transfer. The fund is maintained by the Quorum Court for major building projects. The $2.8 million transferred into the fund Thursday is money that was appropriated in last year's budget but not spent.

"This is to move the turnback money into the capital projects fund as we discussed during budget," Joel Jones, justice of the peace for District 7, said during the meeting.

Also Thursday, the Quorum Court approved a resolution authorizing the county judge to apply for a $50,000 grant on behalf of the Northeast Benton County Fire Department-EMS. Brenda Guenther, comptroller, said the department is trying to replace a fire boat used on Beaver Lake. A replacement is estimated at $350,000 and the department is working to find other sources for the remainder of the money. The grant wouldn't require any matching money from the county.

NW News on 06/24/2016

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