Washington County employees are about to get a two percent pay raise, even though the county was $2.4 million dollars over budget for next year.
The Washington County Quorum Court worked to balance the budget Tuesday night by taking $1.3 million dollars from the general fund and $1.1 million dollars from their reserves.
The budget also included taking an additional $600,000 from the reserve fund in order to pay for employee raises. The average employee currently makes $15.80 an hour, which would increase to $16.12, which adds up to an extra $650 a year.
The Quorum Court voted 9 to 4 in favor of the budget. "Either we're going to be fiscally sound or worried about employees, I choose to be fiscally responsible," said Justice Rex Bailey, who voted against the budget.
"I just think it gives a bad message to the public, hurting for jobs, getting laid off, only in government would you get raises," said Bailey.
Fellow Justice, Gary Carnahan, suggested giving employees $300,000 worth of bonuses, but when that failed he was one of the nine that voted for the budget and the two percent raise.
"We don't want them looking for jobs or work at other companies or agencies we want them to stay at Washington County, they've been trained for their job, they're operating at a high level of competence," said Carnahan.
According to Carnahan there is currently about $8 million in reserve funds. Carnahan and Bailey both fear that number could trickle down. Due to the economy the county may have to continue dipping into their reserves for years to come.
"There has been a decrease in state role back funds to the county, decrease in sales tax revenue, real estate property tax appraisals coming in low," said Carnahan.
However, he also says losing employees is something the county shouldn't risk. "You have to go and find someone else, retain them, get them up to speed in the job, that all is loss in productivity," said Carnahan.
Bailey said the county needs to be run more like a private business. "If your $1.1 million dollars over budget you would not give $600,000 worth of raises, not in private sector, only in government, it's not right."
The cause for the budget shortfall stems from two areas, the Road and Bridge Fund and the Jail Fund.
The 2010 budget, which includes the employee raises, is not official yet. The Quorum Court has to vote on the issue again in December.
The Washington County Quorum Court worked to balance the budget Tuesday night by taking $1.3 million dollars from the general fund and $1.1 million dollars from their reserves.
The budget also included taking an additional $600,000 from the reserve fund in order to pay for employee raises. The average employee currently makes $15.80 an hour, which would increase to $16.12, which adds up to an extra $650 a year.
The Quorum Court voted 9 to 4 in favor of the budget. "Either we're going to be fiscally sound or worried about employees, I choose to be fiscally responsible," said Justice Rex Bailey, who voted against the budget.
"I just think it gives a bad message to the public, hurting for jobs, getting laid off, only in government would you get raises," said Bailey.
Fellow Justice, Gary Carnahan, suggested giving employees $300,000 worth of bonuses, but when that failed he was one of the nine that voted for the budget and the two percent raise.
"We don't want them looking for jobs or work at other companies or agencies we want them to stay at Washington County, they've been trained for their job, they're operating at a high level of competence," said Carnahan.
According to Carnahan there is currently about $8 million in reserve funds. Carnahan and Bailey both fear that number could trickle down. Due to the economy the county may have to continue dipping into their reserves for years to come.
"There has been a decrease in state role back funds to the county, decrease in sales tax revenue, real estate property tax appraisals coming in low," said Carnahan.
However, he also says losing employees is something the county shouldn't risk. "You have to go and find someone else, retain them, get them up to speed in the job, that all is loss in productivity," said Carnahan.
Bailey said the county needs to be run more like a private business. "If your $1.1 million dollars over budget you would not give $600,000 worth of raises, not in private sector, only in government, it's not right."
The cause for the budget shortfall stems from two areas, the Road and Bridge Fund and the Jail Fund.
The 2010 budget, which includes the employee raises, is not official yet. The Quorum Court has to vote on the issue again in December.
