On Monday, the Greene County Compensation Board met to discuss increasing the salaries of the county-elected positions.
Based on the 2.5% raise in salaries for the Secondary Roads Department and the Sheriff’s office unions, Board Chair Mary Jane Fields suggested the same percentage increase for all department heads. There were some elected officials that requested between a 2.5% and a 3% raise. Last year, the Board recommended a 3% raise and the Supervisors approved it.
Fields stated that when she looked at the state averages, their Board tried to stay within 95% per elected office. She added that if they gave all elected officials a 3% raise, that would put all of them over the 95% mark and if they went with a 2.5% increase, some department heads would be over 95% and some would not.
Other board members thought 3% was fair especially with land values to increase by 2.83%. Another factor was the difference between the two percentages was only $6,000.
The Board agreed to recommend to the County Supervisors a 3% raise in salaries for the 2016 fiscal year.
Going forward, deputy auditor Billie Jo Hoskins said the Supervisors cannot increase salaries more than 3% but they can lower their own salaries separately if they so choose. However, if they decide to select a lower percentage for any other elected official, it must be the same for all offices.
Hoskins pointed out that the Supervisors have 30 days before the public hearing on the budget to act on their own salary percentage. Usually, when the Supervisors approve a percentage, the other non-officials and non-deputies get the same increase in those offices. Most deputies in each office have their salaries set at 85% of the department head’s total salary.
Below is a look of how each department head’s salaries would increase if a 3% raise is approved by the Supervisors:
Position Current Salary 3% Increase Total
Supervisors $26,334.96 $790.05 $27,125.01
Treasurer $51,801.84 $1,554.06 $53,355.90
Auditor $52,273.68 $1,568.21 $53,841.89
Recorder $51,313.20 $1,539.40 $52,852.60
Sheriff $67,539.80 $2,026.19 $69,565.99
Attorney $83,539.68 $2,506.19 $86,045.87