Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz told the Free Lance he was
”
bouncing it out there
”
that county department heads should consider foregoing 3 percent
cost-of-living adjustments for the year, but there is no indication
of such a formal discussion before those hikes take effect Jan.
11.
HOLLISTER
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz told the Free Lance he was “bouncing it out there” that the county’s elected department heads should consider foregoing 3 percent cost-of-living adjustments for the year, but there is no indication of such a formal discussion before those hikes take effect Jan. 11.
San Benito’s department leaders, among some of the highest-paid county employees, are due for those annual increases soon. The total fiscal impact of the county raises is unclear, as several officials are out today and a human resources analyst who spoke to the Free Lance did not have the data available.
Those cost-of-living increases are separate from the 5 percent hikes for which employees are eligible each year on their respective anniversary dates – until they reach the last step in a pay range.
While department heads are set to receive their COLA increases starting a week from Sunday, other employees with the county have received the 3 percent raises since October.
De La Cruz, who departs as board chairman Tuesday, noted how the economy is “pretty bad” and also said he “applauded” work by the department heads for controlling costs as of late. But he also said he had initiated talk of those leaders declining their contractually approved 3 percent COLA hikes, so that the community can hear their thoughts on the idea.
“I think it’s more of a gesture to allow the department heads and elected officials to speak for themselves,” said De La Cruz, who noted how supervisors already have agreed to forego 3 percent cost-of-living increases. “I’m bouncing it out there, floating it out there. Let them share their thoughts.”
De La Cruz also, however, contended that the county is in “good fiscal shape to ride the next three years.” He said county officials and employees will continue focusing on ways to cut costs in what he expects to be a “tough year.”
Regarding the remainder and majority of county employees who are not department heads, and who also are set to receive the COLA raises, De La Cruz had this to say: “Again, I’m just bouncing an idea, to see how the units feel about it and how the department heads feel about it.”
This story is developing. Look for reaction from other supervisors and department heads in an upcoming story.
