Madam Chair, I agree that our county employees deserve fair compensation and should receive the same consideration as elected officials. However, guaranteeing automatic annual increases must account for the county’s ability to pay. Each increase creates a recurring expense taxpayers must fund in future years.
I would support a safeguard allowing the Commission, by a two-thirds majority vote, to suspend that year’s automatic increase during a documented budget crisis, subject to legal review. This would apply only to the increase, without reducing existing salaries.
During a financial emergency, a mandated increase could force the county to consider layoffs to meet payroll. Temporarily withholding an increase could preserve employees’ jobs and protect essential services. The high voting threshold would guard against arbitrary decisions while giving future leaders the flexibility to respond responsibly.
Our commitment to employees should include protecting their livelihoods when the county faces difficult financial circumstances.
-JDC
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