GREENFIELD — Hancock County’s full-time employees, elected officials and some part timers will see a bump in their pay next year once county officials finalize the 2019 budget.
During recent budget discussions, the county council recommended giving $1,000 raises to full-time employees and elected officials in 2019. Most of the county’s part-time workers, specifically permit employees, will receive 2 percent raises, while each merit deputy will get a $2,000 salary increase, county auditor Robin Lowder said.
Other part-time employee pay raises will be determined by department heads. Some workers, such as a few probation employees, will get more than a $1,000 raise due to state mandates, Lowder added.
The total estimated amount in 2019 for raises is $474,119, Lowder said. Those monies will come from multiple county funds, she said, adding that some of the pay increases will be paid for by grants.
The board of commissioners on Tuesday OK’d the salary recommendations, which will next need council approval. The county has to adopt its 2019 budget by Nov. 1 and submit it to the state by Nov. 5.
Commissioner salaries will increase to $28,540 each and council members will each earn $5,981.
Last year, the county gave $1,000 increases to employees and elected officials and $2,000 to deputies. For several years when the economy was in a downturn, the county didn’t give raises or only awarded small increases, she said. Now, Lowder said the county is needing to attain workers because of higher turnover.
“The council is trying to make up for lost wages from that time in order to keep quality employees,” Lowder wrote in an email.
