The Carroll County Council members developed the 2024 spending plan over the last few weeks with some unexpected decisions being made.
Employee raises were not consistent across the board and department heads expressed their displeasure at the Oct. 19 meeting to discuss budget decisions with departments.
The focal point of the objections was on the 12% raise given to the staff in the Auditor’s Office while most others received a 4% raise.
Treasurer Melinda Rossetter told the Council that it is not their job to do evaluations of the employees, it is the Commissioners’ job. “But you did it,” she said.
Rossetter said the Council pulled all of the job descriptions of Auditor’s Office employees and based on those forms, as well as discussions with the auditor, decided those employees were busier than other employees in the courthouse.
Rossetter said, “That just isn’t true.”
She said almost every department touches the same paperwork at some time or another, the paperwork does not just stay in the Auditor’s Office.
Rossetter further stated that the county should have a human resources director who does not sit in the Auditor’s Office. She said the human resources director should only be accountable to the county commissioners.
Rossetter suggested all raises be set at 8%.
On the opposite end of the pay raise spectrum, County Clerk Sharon Milburn asked, “Why am I the only department head who did not get a raise?”
Milburn received no answer. Council member Tracy Martin stated, “I was not in favor of that.”
Surveyor Don Shockley said it is not justified that employees in the Auditor’s Office make more than his first deputy.
Area Plan Director Kamron Yates thanked the Council for the administrative assistant’s raise in his office of 10%. He then requested another 2% for the position.
“If you give one office a big raise and not the others, you have created a toxic work environment,” County Recorder Penny Titus told the Council, stating that is what has been done.
The Council approved the developed 2024 spending plan unanimously.
Council member Scott Ayres advised the wage and salary ordinance will not be adopted until later this year.
The recorded video of this meeting can be found on YouTube on the “Debbie Lowe” channel.