County proposes salary boost for low-paid employees

In a recent government meeting, discussions centered around employee compensation, particularly for those in the sheriff's office and the jail, highlighted the need for salary adjustments to address disparities among county employees.

The meeting revealed that while the sheriff's department had implemented a pay increase for certain employee categories, many 100-level employees, including those in the jail, did not receive raises due to ineligibility under Senate Bill 22. This prompted a proposal to raise the base pay for all 100-level employees by $3,000, which would affect approximately 128 employees earning below the federal poverty level for a household of four, currently set at $41,496.

The proposed salary schedule aims to provide relief across various pay groups, with the lowest pay group seeing an increase to $28,543. The adjustments are intended to ensure that employees are compensated fairly and to alleviate financial strain for those at the lower end of the pay scale. The discussions underscored the importance of equitable pay practices within the county, as officials considered various strategies to implement these changes effectively.

Overall, the meeting highlighted a critical focus on employee welfare and the need for a comprehensive review of compensation structures to support county workers adequately.