RAISES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO BE VOTED ON BY JUSTICES

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Jefferson County employees with at least one year of employment are scheduled to see their salaries go up next year if the county’s legislative body adopts the 2009 budget Monday night.

Last week, committees of the quorum court recommended that the proposed budget, which includes $8.8 million for county general and $3.5 million for the road department be approved, for a total of nearly $12.3 million.

That figure reflects an increase of just over $550,000 from the approved 2008 budget.

As far as salary increases are concerned, county employees, excluding elected officials, constables and members of the quorum court will receive a three percent increase, beginning in January.

Other 2009 budgets that are expected to be approved included more than $3.9 million to operate the adult detention center with a majority of that money coming from the quarter-cent maintenance and operations sales tax that was approved by county voters when they voted to build the new jail.

An additional $515,000 plus for the adult jail will come from the 2000 Public Safety sales tax.

County volunteer fire departments will split $200,000 of public safety sales tax money, with amounts ranging from $4,000 for the Humphrey department to $15,000 each for the Hardin, Highway 15 South, Island Harbor, Linwood/Moscow, Southeast, Tucker, Watson Chapel, Wright/Pastoria and Swan Lake departments. The Redfield, Sherrill and Wabbaseka departments will get $12,000 each, while Altheimer is slated to receive $8,000.

The sheriff’s department will receive $784,110 while the juvenile center gets $800,00 from the same sales tax next year.

Also, a recommended 2009 budget of $485,100 for educational programs at the juvenile center is expected to be approved, with much of that money being used for salaries and benefits for teachers and aides.

County Judge Mike Holcomb said the proposed $1,791,487 budget for the juvenile justice center was sent back to the public safety/emergency services committee, and will be considered in December.

Other 2009 budgets on the agenda include $725,000 for the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System; $264,953 for the Solid Waste Management Fund; $930,000 for the Solid Waste Contract Fund; $294,356 for the Jefferson County Recycling Resource Recovery Fund; $140,000 for Jefferson County Tire Disposal; $100,000 for the Jefferson County/District Tire Disposal Fund; $26,332 for a County Environmental Officer; $60,000 to cover jury fees in the five divisions of Circuit Court; and $47,600 for the Public Defender’s Office.