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Union leaders and county crisis worker urge higher than 2% COLA
Summary
Union representatives and a Polk County crisis worker told commissioners a proposed 2% cost-of-living adjustment is inadequate amid rising prices and heavier workloads, urging the board to revise the increase to better reflect inflation and employee needs.
Amy Everetts, president of Local 173, urged the Polk County Board of Commissioners to reject a proposed 2% cost-of-living adjustment and increase wages to match inflation and commuting costs. "A 2% COLA doesn't come close to reflecting what inflation has done to my family's budget," she told the board during the public-comment period.
Rolando Figueroa, a representative for AFSCME Council 75, read a statement on behalf of an employee and echoed the concerns, saying the proposed increase "doesn't keep up with inflation" and warning that surrounding counties are paying more and the county risks losing staff. A county crisis-team employee whose letter was read during the same comment period said she had given up secondary jobs to devote herself to crisis work and described rising demand and complex cases as reasons the county should offer a larger adjustment.
The comments were made during the public-comment portion before the board moved on to a scheduled public hearing; commissioners did not debate or decide a specific COLA amount during the meeting. The remarks serve as formal input for the board and budgeting staff as they consider final compensation decisions later in the budget process.
