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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:03 PM CST
County Board grants $500 a year pay raise in 'difficult year'

By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Coles County Board members approved the county’s 2010 fiscal year budget Tuesday after hearing about a “very difficult year” and the possibility of less income for the county next year.

The board adopted the budget for the fiscal year that begins Dec. 1, approving a financial plan of just more than $11 million, about $148,000 larger than the current year’s budget.

Member Mike Weaver, chairman of the board’s Finance Committee that prepared the budget, said it was “particularly challenging” this year because of limits on how much property tax revenue the county could receive.

Because the county is under the restrictions of the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, property tax revenue could only increase by last year’s rate of inflation, 0.1 percent.

Weaver told the board that the present rate of inflation is actually below zero. That could mean the only tax revenue increase the county could see next year would be from new construction, which isn’t affected by PTELL during the first tax year after the construction.

The board didn’t discuss the budget, but a woman who attended the meeting questioned the raises for the county employees that it included. She identified herself as Mary Temples of Charleston and said she didn’t think it was fair for county workers to get raises when Social Security benefits didn’t include a cost of living adjustment this year.

Weaver replied that county employees received a “very slight increase,” $500 for the year for fulltime workers and $250 for part-time employees. Member Dan Lawrence added that whether or not county employees got pay raises would have no effect on how much Social Security recipients receive.

In other matters Tuesday, the board:

n Approved an agreement with the Coles County Council on Aging to allow space between the council’s LifeSpan Center facility and its Dial-A-Ride bus garage to be used for parking. The county and the council each own half the ground that will be used. Council Executive Director Dee Braden said she’s checking to see if the city of Charleston will have to approve the parking lot because of the city’s zoning jurisdiction of the location.

n Renewed the county’s agreement with PersonalCare Health Management Inc. for employee health insurance and increased the amount the county contributes toward monthly premiums by $5 to $305 per employee.

n Delayed presenting a plaque to retiring Supervisor of Assessments Jean Tipsword until the board’s December meeting because Tipsword couldn’t attend Tuesday.

n Waived the county’s hiring freeze so the county Health Department can fill a nursing position vacancy.

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 238-6858.

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soybeanpod wrote on Nov 12, 2009 7:37 AM:

" I can understand the board wanting to give raises to good employees, but as some others have written, they are getting nothing this year in the way of a raise. When the county is hurting, I feel the taxpayer shouldn't be burdened by spending not required. The 911 service is an example of a need, not a want, that should be funded. Roads and bridges are another need, that should be funded. If others are not getting raises, then the county worker should understand, also. "

Old Grumpy wrote on Nov 12, 2009 2:54 PM:

" "Member Dan Lawrence added that whether or not county employees got pay raises would have no effect on how much Social Security recipients receive."

Come on Dan, wake up, is the meeting disturbing your sleep? What was mentioned was the fact that those on Social Security were not going to get a cost-of-living increase this year. No one claimed these raises were causing that problem.

The people living on fixed incomes are hurt most by these "feel-good" raises. The people living off of their Social Security benefits may have to do without something just so you can feel good. "

pj1983 wrote on Nov 14, 2009 7:38 AM:

" many employees are doing without pay raises because times are tough. my company told everyone "no raises this year" and did away with incentive programs. if the county workers don't like that they're not getting a raise, i'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would love to have their jobs, at the CURRENT pay level. "

Locke wrote on Nov 14, 2009 10:59 AM:

" ...the 911 service is an example of a need, not a want.

Good point, but how did we ever manage to survive without 911? "

devilishangel61401 wrote on Nov 14, 2009 10:20 PM:

" "Member Dan Lawrence added that whether or not county employees got pay raises would have no effect on how much Social Security recipients receive."

Of course it wouldn't but the lady didn't point it out for that reason, she was saying it to illustrate a point. Are people truly so un-intellegent now-a-days that they need everything explained to them in detail? sheesh.

I have no problem with good employees getting raises when the economy is supportive of that, but this economy is not supportive of anyone getting a raise at the moment. I think its just irresponsible that the country was telling the paper they need to find a way to pay for the 911 service for the county yet vote their employees a big fat pay raise. There are plenty of other things in the county that need funded right now such as our schools that the paper is reporting is "borrowing money to pay bills and such due to not getting the state funding" PJ I agree with you I know plenty of people that would be thrilled to do the county jobs at the current pay level. Old Grumpy good point, those of us who live on the fixed income of any type of Social Security are hurt by these types of raise. Shoot the lousy 20 dollar one time a year increase that Social Security is now not giving out doesn't go far but it does help some. "