Non-Union County Officials Awarded Pay Raise

By Jonathan Weaver

More than 250 Armstrong County employees will get a pay raise this year.

The three county commissioners and County Controller Myra Miller unanimously voted for the $800 raise.

County Human Resources Director Dan Lukovich recommended the $800 flat-rate increase to all non-bargaining unit employees. Part-time employee salaries will be pro-rated based on hours worked.

Lukovich – who explained that a salaried employee will make about an additional $66 per month and an hourly employee an additional 40 cents - also considered a percentage increase of up to three percent or no increase at all.

Commissioner Chair David Battaglia was the first to vote in favor of the dollar raise rather than a percentage.

“I believe that helps correct a lot of problems we’ve discussed ever since we’ve been here – trying to fill a lower-end void,” Battaglia said. “It’s been a concern for everyone on this board how to keep from losing people at the lower-end.

“We’ve all talked about this since day one. There’s no easy fix, but this seems like the most reasonable solution.”

Miller brought up a discussion point.

“I’m questioning the fairness of someone who’s been working here a year getting $800 and somebody who’s been working here for 30 years – we do have department heads that are making more money than the high-end elected officials that will still get the $800. We also have elected officials – like the jury commissioners – that make probably less-than-half of the highest-paid elected officials that will not be getting a raise, and I’m wondering how they might feel about that,” Miller said.

Sheriff Bill Rupert said he approved of the non-union pay raise.

“I’m fine with it – if it helps to bring the people I hire up a little. That’s my biggest problem – getting qualified people to do the job I need them to do at the price I’m forced to bring them in at,” Sheriff Rupert said.

Prothonatary and Clerk of Courts Brenda George was also OK with the non-union raise after she said she has lost four employees in six months.
It was the first year Commissioner Rich Fink said elected officials did not get a raise during his tenure. He thought other elected officials would also understand.

“So many times from elected officials and department heads we hear they can’t keep them because they can’t pay them enough,” Fink said. “The amount of money means more to the bottom-end than it does the top.

“Is this something that should be done every year? No. Should it be done now? Absolutely. I think it’s the right thing to do.”

Commissioner Bower said it wouldn’t be fair then to the non-union employee of 20 years as opposed to an elected official who just was sworn in in 2014.

“At three percent, the low-end – around $9 per hour, $20,000 per year – gets a $600 raise while elected officials rake in $1,500-2,000. I think this is time to fix a problem,” Bower said. “Every year as coroner, I’ve been given a raise – and I think it’s time to give this year a rest and start working on the lower-end of the wage scale so we continue to keep these employees instead of having to replace them and retrain them – retraining is costly.”

Before the unanimous vote, Commissioner Battaglia added that a percentage raise adds to their pension.

Further Salary Board meetings will be held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 9AM.

 

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  By jorn jensen, January 6, 2015 @ 10:58 AM

  Wonder where all of that money is coming from?
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  By savvynewshound, January 6, 2015 @ 3:16 PM

  Raises for non-union employees should be based entirely on merit, not a consistent amount across the board. (Actually all employees union or non-union, but that’s another conversation) It looks to me like they took the easy way out. Evaluate the employees and give them the appropriate increase.

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