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Putnam County adopts $300.89M budget and approves $500 one-time employee bonus
Summary
The commission approved a $300,891,009.16 appropriations package and the required three-column budget. During debate commissioners shifted a proposed $500 cost-of-living increase into a $500 one-time bonus; votes on amendments and final budget were recorded.
Putnam County commissioners approved the appropriation resolution totaling $300,891,009.16 and, as required by state law after amendments, approved the three-column budget. Commissioner Rogers presented the appropriation resolution and stated the total: "The total number of appropriations, hold on just a 2nd, for the county is $300,891,009.16." After discussion and amendments, the clerk announced the final vote on the three-column budget as amended: "Mister chairman, I have 22 voting yes, 2 no." The motion carried.
A central point of debate was a proposal to increase employee pay by $500. Commissioners discussed whether that $500 should be an ongoing cost-of-living raise or a one-time payment. The chair summarized the outcome: "So we are now back on the amendment, which is now a $500 1 time bonus for employees." The commission first passed an amendment to change the raise into a one-time bonus (the clerk recorded 14 yes, 9 no, 1 abstain on the amendment-to-amendment) and later approved the amended amendment (clerk recorded 17 yes, 6 no, 1 abstain). The board discussed fiscal impacts (estimates in the transcript placed the added cost at roughly $3.76 million to the general fund if made recurring; the one-time bonus cost was discussed in the meeting context).
