About half of San Benito County’s workforce won’t take material
pays cut in the next year because they still are due 5 percent
”
merit
”
increases
– which will compensate for 15 furlough days required for many
employees before July and a flat pay reduction for others,
confirmed Rich Inman, an assistant county administrative
officer.
HOLLISTER
About half of San Benito County’s workforce won’t take material pays cut in the next year because they still are due 5 percent “merit” increases – which will compensate for 15 furlough days required for many employees before July and a flat pay reduction for others, confirmed Rich Inman, an assistant county administrative officer.
San Benito County officials have been seeking ways to cut costs in light of declining revenues in the poor economy. Administrators have noted the mandatory furloughs for many of the county’s 450 employees and 5 percent pay cuts for nearly all of the 18 department heads, excluding two elected officials who declined to accept the reduction.
But in reality, employees who have not reached the highest of six steps on their respective pay scales – they are evaluated annually for the 5 percent merit increases – remain eligible and will receive those funds on their anniversary dates.
Inman estimated that includes about half of the workforce. He acknowledged County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson – whose base salary is $164,000 – is among them, being at the third pay step. Administrators, meanwhile, have estimated the moves will save about $700,000 this fiscal year.
“If we didn’t have to have furloughs,” Inman clarified, “she would get a 5 percent (base) increase.”
All six elected department heads also are set to receive the merit increases – there is no required evaluation for the six of them – on the first of the year, Inman said. The five supervisors, however, do not get merit increases and will absorb the 5 percent hit, he said.
Inman also explained that as part of recent negotiations with unions, administrators agreed to add another step – a seventh – to the pay scale. It doesn’t take effect for three years but produces additional liability once enacted. In exchange, employee groups in talks had agreed to extend the number of furlough days from 13 to 15, Inman noted.
For more on this story, see the Free Lance on Tuesday.
