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County workers to likely get pay increase
Commissioners eye cost-of-living raise for nonunion employees
Published Friday, November 28, 2008
During a Tuesday budget workshop, the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners indicated it will more than likely support a cost of living increase next year for nonunion county employees.
Fifth District Commissioner Mark Behrends made the recommendation for a 2 1/2 percent increase, noting that this was right in the middle in percentage of some of the union settlements that have been happening around the state so far this year.
Behrends said he thinks the unions would be comfortable with that increase as well.
There have not been any settlements regarding union employees yet but in most cases when the commissioners vote on the nonunion salaries this sets the bar for the unions.
Commissioners Glen Mathiason and Jim Nelson agreed with the recommendation.
Third District Commissioner Dan Belshan asked if there could instead be a one-time flat payment given to the employees, that would be more equitable for those who make $70,000 compared to those who make $30,000.
In with the salary discussions, some of the commissioners also voiced their support for a cost of living increase for the elected officials, but a few voiced their support against any increase to elected official salaries.
During an October workshop about the salaries, the Freeborn County recorder, auditor-treasurer, attorney and sheriff presented their salary requests for 2009. As a whole, the requests were minimal and focused mainly on the possibility of retirement benefits and a simple cost of living adjustment.
Incoming 5th District Commissioner Linda Tuttle said she thinks the elected officials, including the commissioners the recorder, auditor-treasurer, attorney and sheriff, need to set an example and not have an increase.
“When everyone else is losing jobs, taking pay cuts and losing benefits, I think you need to lead by example,” Tuttle said. “I think we need to seriously think about whether we want to do these increases or not. If we want our citizens to believe in us and stand behind us then we have to show some goodwill and faith also.”
Belshan agreed.
“We’re in a unique situation that we haven’t been in since I’ve been on the board and for a long time,” Belshan said. “I feel that people run for elected positions to do a public service. It would set a good tone to not increase them for next year, and I’m talking all elected officials, not just the county board.”
Behrends said he thinks commissioners need to look at their jobs separately from the other elected officials.
“They do a wonderful job, and they need to be compensated for that,” Behrends said.
Mathiason said a cost of living increase for the commissioners has a minimal impact on the total budget.
He said in the past when the commissioners have had a discussion about if there’s going to be an increase in the nonunion salaries, they’ve sometimes gone through with the same increase for the elected officials as well. Other times they’ve gone with a smaller increase, and other times yet they’ve decided not to have an increase.
“It’s fine to lead by example but there’s quite a bit of time involved with this,” Mathiason said. “You need to be compensated something.”
Tuttle said when the commissioners vote on the salaries she hopes they address the good job that the elected officials do in their duties.
“But I do believe we have to show the community at least with our own salaries as commissioners,” she said. “There has to be a faith that we’re trying to be responsible in what we’re doing as a county board.”
The Tuesday workshop was one of several the commissioners have had during recent months to talk about possible budget cuts and salaries for the 2009 year.
It’s expected that during the upcoming county board meeting on Dec. 4, the commissioners will vote on the nonunion and elected official salaries.
On Dec. 6, there will be a public hearing to discuss the levy and the budget. The county is not required to have a Truth in Taxation hearing this year, but decided to go through with a public hearing anyway.
Comments
Posted by feedman (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
when everyone is gettiong laid off why should they get a raise. they should be thankful they even have a job. but gov employees are special people. like s----
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish everyone could get a cost of living rasie. I know it will not happen at most nongovernment jobs. We will be lucky to keep ours.
Elected officals should not get a rasie at all. Show us you feel our pain. County Government needs to cut it's spending and cut taxes to help everyone. If they don't the county could be facing a loss of revenue and these same people may lose their job.
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
union workers get $70,000 and non union gets $ 30,000 something is not right there. they all should get payed the same $ 30,000 if they don't like it quit. i am sure the job would be filled over night
Posted by hipocryt (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Show us your pain?
When many others have lost their jobs, had benefits &/or their hours cut, had pay cuts or maybe just have not had a raise in 2-years, does this County Board thinks they need to give a raise to the County Employee's?
Set the bar for Union by giving the Non-Union a 2-1/2% increase, good grief. I think the Board needs a lesson in Economics along with all of the County Employee's.
Just because you work as a Government/County Employee does not mean you should have the rights to wage and benefit increases when the majority of the Taxpayers, your Employers are going without.
Have the employee's in the private sector with similar jobs had a raise like the Board is suggesting?
Have you learned or demonstrated a new skill or enacted some other cost savings measures that make you worth 2-1/2% more than last year?
Do you really think you deserve an increase when many of your friends and neighbors and the Taxpayers supporting you are doing without?
Last year I lost my job due to the economic conditions and got a new one with a 36% decrease in my gross wages, now this year after 11-1/2 months on the new job, the economic conditions put me out searching again. At the same time I am paying for the COBRA HEalth Insurance at $1,200 a month.
Take a 0%, no-change or increase for 1 or 2 years and then tell me about your pain.
Posted by SRO (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Feedman...and hipocryt, I feel your pain when it comes to paying health insurance. We have 2 kids and no insurance because my husbands monthly cost of insurance is outrageous for a family...do only certain people get cost of living raises? just curious as I don't know thte answer.
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't you all feel like mushrooms?? We get left in the dark and pooped on. Maybe if I say pooped they won't delete this.
Posted by OldTrojan (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NO RAISES for county employees please! Shame on them for even considering accepting a raise!
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want those offical to feel what everyone here is feeling. It is tough out here in the real word. The last time I talked about the pain I was facing I was told to get 2 or 3 jobs and stop whinning. This is the same county who keeps rasing taxes which effects everyone home owner or renter. They think that 2-1/2% is not a big rasie. It is huge when the people paying the tax are getting killed by higher prices on everything. The county has great insurance and great benefits. I would gladly trade jobs with any of them and would not take a rasie.
But again are the county (city) officals reading these post? Will they even listen to us when we call or come to the meets? My heart says no because we don't matter the vote is so yesterday news and they have several years to make us forget about these issues.
Posted by 57boy (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lost my job due to downsizing....PAIN !!! I've had NO insurance since the 7 th of September.COBRA is to expensive !!!! State,Local, & Federal employees,union or non-union should ALL be taking wage FREEZES right now !!!!!!When will the madness end !!!!!!
Posted by headscratcher (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree no one should be getting a raise unless all get a raise. I didn't read the article I came straight to the comments. I don't know who is up for raises but no one should considering the economy.
Truth I never said you should get 2 or 3 jobs. I said maybe you should if it would help you. I personally have 3 jobs. I know and feel the pain. I do what I have to do to get by and even then sometimes it's not enough. My adult children don't have insurance and I worry for them everyday. I pray that God protects from any harm. My son can't even find a job. I truly do feel your pain. I just don't think that talking about it on here will get you, me, or anyone else that is struggling, any help.
Posted by time2share (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are two elected official that should be congratulated, they are Linda Tuttle and Dan Belshan.... If you notice above, Linda Tuttle said she thinks the elected officials, including the commissioners the recorder, auditor-treasurer, attorney and sheriff, need to set an example and not have an increase. Dan Belshan is in agreement...
I commend Linda and Dan for their courage to speak out on our behalf. Sounds like they were the only two that did. I agree with all the rest of the posts, it seems to be unanimous, I would like to add, pay increases should be rewards for a job well done, I don't see anyone in any of the posts that think that this is the case..."NO MORE RAISES"....... PERIOD!!!!
Posted by mrthunder (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i say lets all go on welfare. we can get free medical then. have them pay for us then.. ha ha ha
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If those 2 commissioners want a pat on the back than they should take a stand and not give any rasies. Then they should cut spending, they should not take a pay check, and cut taxes to get jobs to come to Albert lea.
To much pride for welfare but the way things are going I think we will all be on it very soon even if we don't want to.
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 28, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The county board seems to be in it's own little world.
Posted by mmurtaugh (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to our 2009 property tax statement, there is no 'truth in taxation' meeting required for the county. Is this correct, or an error on the statement? If someone can confirm either way, please do so.
The truth-in-taxation meetings for the city and school district are this week:
Albert Lea - 7 p.m., Monday, Dec. 1, city council chambers, with a continuation Dec. 8, same time & location
Dist. 241 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, Brookside board room
Please attend and give input.
Mike Murtaugh
Mayor-Elect
Posted by Wildbill (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent suggestion Mike! All you who go after the City, let's see you show up at the School District asnd County meetings!
Posted by Virginian (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on, 2 1/2 %, that's all? This a mere pittance when compared to union wages and raises. These people are working for you, give them a break. There are people on some of these forums who complain about slave labor!!! These county employees deserve this raise, after all wasn't Obama just elected?
Posted by allake (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrthunder,
Are you suggesting that all county jobs should pay $30,000? Do you really think you would be able to find qualified people to fill all the positions at $30,000?
Posted by wooduck46 (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The county is having a public hearing to discuss the levy and the budgete but I believe it is on Dec.4 at 6pm not on Dec 6. Also the County Commissioners meeting is on Dec 2 at 8:30 am not on Dec 4..
Posted by Truth (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about people who work 2nd shift?
Posted by fcresident (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 1:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Truth stated "The county has great insurance and great benefits" What does the county offers for insurance? What are the benefits. I heard it was over $600.00 per month premium for a single parent to cover themselves and their child on insurance. Benefits might be good but insurance would be no bargain at $600.00+ per month. I would have to earn $3.10 per hour more than I am now to work for them to pay for insurance, compared to my current cost if the #'s I was told are true.
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