Commissioners learn about deputies’ overtime, vote on wage increases

Commissioners on Tuesday voted on a wage increase for hourly employees.

Sheriff’s deputies will receive an additional $1.75 per hour, correctional officers will receive $1.60 per hour and all other hourly county employees will receive 50 cents per hour. Undersheriff Ben Cole will receive a $5,000 annual increase, according to the unofficial minutes.

The amount of raises has fluctuated during the past few weeks as commissioners and County Counselor Justin Meeks tried to determine how the increases will affect the 2018 budget. While working on the budget, commissioners had said deputies and jail staff would receive $1.75 per hour and all other employees would receive an additional 75 cents.

In December, commissioners discussed reducing correctional officers’ raises to $1.60 per hour.

On Jan. 2, after seeing the Jan. 5 payroll report, which showed more hours due to two holidays and overtime, Meeks questioned the raises.

Second District Commissioner Jeff Fischer suggested no raises be given until the cost of operating the new jail can be determined. Meeks suggested employees be given a one-time pay increase instead of an hourly increase. Another suggestion was to give an across-the board 75-cent increase. An additional raise would be considered in the future.

Longevity pay

Commissioners also have discussed changing the longevity pay schedule for all employees. That change is now on hold, according to the unofficial minutes.

Deputies submit resignations unless raises given

Third District Commissioner Nick Ruhl said during a phone conversation with Cole about the raises, Ruhl asked Cole to attend Tuesday’s meeting to explain overtime in the sheriff’s office.

Cole said deputies will always have overtime because they work 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next and overtime is based on a 43-hour workweek.

Correctional officers are paid overtime after 86 hours in a two-week period. The difference in the two workweeks was created in 2014.

On Dec. 6, 2013, then County Counselor Terri Johnson, Jail Administrator Bobby Reed, Sheriff Bill Martin, Cole and commissioners discussed the amount of overtime in the jail.

Commissioners discussed changing the workweek for correctional officers. Commissioners also discussed changing the payroll from twice a month to every other week.

Commissioners voted on both changes during the Dec. 13, 2013 meeting, effective with the Jan. 10, 2014 payroll.

“Every pay period, every deputy gets five hours of overtime,” Cole said.