By Ray King
It wasn’t easy but after more than 30 minutes of debate, the Jefferson County Quorum Court voted to approve raises for county employees retroactive to Jan. 1.
During committee meetings last week, the county’s legislative body voted to recommend a four percent pay hike for all county employees except commissioned deputies who would receive five percent, and county officials who were elected to four-year terms. They would get an eight percent raise. Members of the Quorum Court would get a three-percent increase in their per diem. The County Judge would also receive $6,000 annually for using his personal vehicle rather than purchasing a county vehicle.
Monday night, Justice of the Peace Alfred Carroll sought to amend the ordinance and proposed a four-percent across the board hike for all employees, with the exception of the JP’s, who would still get their three-percent per diem increase.
Carroll contended that while it was important to give the raises, he said it was also important to maintain the county’s current financial posture.
Justice of the Peace Brenda Bishop Gaddy said she thought the percentage of the raises should be higher but County Judge Gerald Robinson said that the proposed eight percent is double the amount federal employees received. Also, state calls for elected officials to receive a three-percent pay increase annually, something Jefferson County has not been able to do since 2008.
A vote on Carroll’s amendment failed 7-6 with Carroll and Justice of the Peace Reginald Adams, Reginald Johnson and Cedric Jackson voting yes and Justices of the Peace Melanie Dumas and Bishop Gaddy abstaining.
After that vote, the county’s legislative body approved the original proposal and at the end of the meeting, Jackson and Johnson said they would not accept the per diem increase. Adams and Carroll said they would.
While they are classified as county employees, dispatchers for MECA (Metropolitan Emergency Communications Association) are paid from a different funding source and they will also receive raises.
An ordinance approved Monday provided for a $3,000 annual increase for dispatchers with the money coming entirely from an increase in revenue the county will receive from higher cellular collections. Personnel other than dispatchers will get a four-percent raise.
