FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Quorum Court moved one step closer to giving the county attorney a roughly $8,600 pay raise for this year during its meeting Thursday.
"I support this particular increase," said Justice of the Peace Alicia Deavens, a Republican representing the area west of Farmington.
In other business
The Washington County Quorum Court approved pay increases for two positions, totaling about $3,800, and passed an ordinance to close out the budget for 2017. Justices of the peace also learned about a feasibility plan that lays out funding options for land conservation efforts.
Source: Staff Report
But, some justices of the peace remained skeptical over whether to approve County Attorney Brian Lester's pay raise to $79,000 from $72,400. Lester's pay was $70,000 last year, according to information provided by Lester.
The Quorum Court approved last year a 3 percent pay raise for all employees, which already boosted Lester's pay, said Justice of the Peace Eva Madison, a Democrat representing northeastern Fayetteville. If approved, the increase to Lester's pay is tantamount to a roughly 10 percent pay raise, she said.
County Judge Joseph Wood told the Quorum Court he wanted Lester's pay be set higher, but the numbers didn't get calculated into the 2018 budget. He said Lester's lower pay was an error.
Several justices of the peace supported fixing the problem immediately.
"It was a mistake somewhere, and it needs to be corrected," said Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison, a Democrat who represents southern Washington County.
Justice of the Peace Sue Madison, a Democrat representing southeastern Fayetteville, questioned whether the lower pay was a mistake.
The proposed base amount for Lester's pay, before the 3 percent raise, is the same as that of former County Attorney Steve Zega, who was among several employees Wood fired when he took office last year. Zega's pay was based partly on the employment market in Northwest Arkansas and on Zega's experience, Madison said.
Zega has more than 20 years of experience working with governments on legal matters, Zega said previously. He was hired as county attorney in 2015, county records show.
Wood hired Lester in Zega's place last year. Lester has more than 10 years of law experience but doesn't have the same amount of experience in government legal matters, according to information presented to a county committee on Jan. 20, 2017.
Justice of the Peace Joe Kieklak, a Democrat representing southern Fayetteville, said some justices of the peace might have their minds made up and plan to give Lester the pay increase, but there should to be more discussion and investigation into the issue before approval.
Other justices of the peace agreed, and the ordinance failed to muster enough support among justices of the peace for a third reading Thursday. The measure needed 10 affirmative votes, but five justices of the peace voted against it, eight supported it and two were absent.
The issue will be taken up again next month, Wood said.
NW News on 03/16/2018