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Anson County approves 2.7% cost-of-living increase for county employees
Summary
The Anson County Board of Commissioners voted to give all county employees a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment. Finance staff said the pro-rated cost to June is roughly $239,000 and the recurring annual cost is about $628,000; one commissioner opposed the measure citing the county’s declining fund balance.
Anson County commissioners voted on March 3 to give county employees a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), citing the recent Social Security increase and rising local prices.
The motion to approve the 2.7% COLA was made from the floor and seconded; commissioners discussed timing and cost before adopting the increase by voice vote. Finance staff presented the estimated fiscal impact: pro-rated through June, a 2.7% COLA would add roughly a quarter-million dollars to payroll in the current fiscal year and, on an annualized basis, would cost approximately $600,000–$630,000 per year.
“Next payroll to June … if we look to do it for a 12-month period, it would be … 628,000,” Martinez Borsha, a county finance representative, told the board when presenting cost estimates and fund-balance context.
Supporters said the increase helps employees keep pace with higher prices and mirrored the federal adjustment to Social Security earlier this year. Opponents cautioned that the county’s fund balance has declined year over year and that a recurring half‑million‑dollar cost could force future trade-offs or layoffs. One commissioner said they would prefer to prioritize merit-based raises that reward performance rather than a blanket increase.
Board members who backed the measure said the county can absorb the timing‑limited portion from current budget savings (vacant, frozen positions) and will revisit compensation policy during upcoming budget work. The board recorded at least one vote in opposition during the voice tally; the transcript does not include a roll-call breakdown.
What’s next: county staff will implement the 2.7% increase effective with the next pay period and include the recurring cost estimate in budget planning for the next fiscal year.
