County dads approve pay increase

Whitman County commissioners unanimously approved Monday a new schedule for giving raises to county employees. The new salary plan will take effect next year.

Under the existing system, which Commissioner Pat O’Neill called “archaic,” employees are given three percent “step” raises every 18 months. The new plan changes that to two percent raises at the beginning of each year.

Heads of various county departments issued a consensus endorsement of the plan, which was drawn up two weeks ago by the county’s classification committee.

Those officials urged a quick decision from commissioners so the pay schedule could be factored into the 2013 budget process.

Step pay increases will be the same over a three year span. However, the new plan also incorperates two percent cost of living raises for employees, also over the next three years.

Those raises are aimed at letting pay “catch up” to the pay of similar employees in other counties around the state.

It also provides a two percent longevity raise in the 17th year of employment.

The new system approved Monday only applies now to 60 non-union employees. Union employees will have to vote to accept the new plan.

The new pay plan, with the catch-up and longevity raises, amounts to an additional $72,683 in pay costs from the county’s current expense fund in 2013; $48,226 in 2014, and $50,813 in 2015.

The citizen salary commission doled out raises to elected officials in May that amount to more than $52,000 in increased spending from the current expense budget.

Both O’Neill and Commissioner Greg Partch voted in favor of the plan. Commissioner Michael Largent was away on vacation.