County Council adopts budget
No salary increases in 2007
By Debbie Lowe

Baker

Seventy-five years ago, the 1931 Delphi Journal reported the Carroll County Council decided the best way to address the financial concerns of the county was to reduce their budget in part by decreasing the salaries of county employees.

A similar situation developed when current council members made some tough decisions for the 2007 budget.

After careful thought and deliberation, the council voted unanimously to grant no salary increases in 2007 for county employees. C o u n c i president Rob Baker said there was more discussion around the issue of compensation than any other matter the budget presented. The 2007 budget is approximately $156,270 more than in 2006, about a 2.15 percent increase, without the salary increases.

Baker said the budget would have remained nearly level had the county not decided to accept the responsibility of providing Burlington with ambulance service.

After the short Friday morning budget adoption hearing, department heads were invited to comment and ask questions about the 2007 budget.

"We gave no salary increases this year," Baker explained to the group. "I thought it was best to let it go status quo for a year and give fair raises next year."

Baker said the council's goal for the 2006 budget was to have no additionals and that goal has been met so far.

"It's unheard of," Baker said.

"We're trying to get things in line this year," council member Jerry Hendress added.

Three county employees voiced opinions when given the opportunity at the meeting.

Health department employee Mary Jones said county government employee health insurance costs usually rise in April. She said without a salary increase, she would be paying more, but with less.

"It's tough. I understand that," Hendress said. "But we're trying to make sure this county stays solvent and can pay its bills."

County prosecutor Rob Ives said he thought "salaries are too low now" and it would be difficult to find competent people to run for public offices if they continue at the present rate.

County assessor Doris McLeland offered an affirmative response to the decision. She said it is a benefit to have all of the paid vacation and days off afforded to county employees. She said another benefit is that the job is close to home for travel considerations.

"Thank you for all your hard work," she concluded. In a follow-up interview, Baker explained some of the rationale for the salary decision.

"We wanted to be pro-active and not reactive," he said. "I must commend those department heads and employees who prepared the 2007 budget requests. A lot of them really thought through their budgets."

"We wanted to give salary increases," he said. "County employees need to remember the rich benefit package they have from the county."

Baker said this is the first year that department heads have received budget information and the opportunity to ask questions about it at the time of adoption.

"I've been on the council for a lot of years," Baker said. "This is the most informed department heads have ever been."

Baker reiterated that it was necessary to look at the benefits received by county employees to judge fair compensation. County employees work a 36-hour week.

A hand-out distributed at the meeting shows the county contributes $4,845.24 for each employee for health insurance, $316.56 for life and disability insurance, and contributes an average of over $1,000 per employee to their retirement fund.

The council will meet Sept. 29 at 8 a.m.