Dispute over 50¢ vs. $1.50 raises for UT Extension staff prompts request for Monday motion

The UT Extension office director, identified in the meeting as Miss Laura, told commissioners she and her staff had expected a $1.50-an-hour county raise but that only a 50¢ raise was included in the budget packet presented earlier. Laura said the office is a hybrid position funded 22% by the county and the remainder by state funding and that the county portion historically covers 22% of employee salaries. Laura told the commission that the office voluntarily returned a building to allow TCAT to use it, which she said was intended to save the county money, and she asked the commission to consider the additional raise. “We opted to return the building in hopes that TCAT would take it,” she said. County officials acknowledged confusion in the budget process. A county staff member said the commission can put a motion on the Monday meeting agenda to decide and, if approved, to provide back pay for the two weeks Laura said her employees already worked without the requested increase. Commissioners and staff debated whether part-time employees were included in the $1.50 raise, how state-provided raises (for the state-funded portion) factor in, and whether longevity and other supplements should be prorated. Finance staff (Tammy and Rachel were named in the discussion) said transfers and resolutions showing prior transfers are in the packet, and that specific transfers can be added before May if authorized. No final action was taken at the work session. Staff advised placing a motion on the Monday regular meeting agenda and to resolve any prorating or classification issues with the personnel committee going forward.