OUR VIEW
County raises are out of touch with reality
William Pennington, finance director of the Clerk of Courts, told a reporter earlier this week top Walton County officials had ?received a 3 percent raise between 2006 and 2007, but added that percentage is much lower than the typical 7 to 10 percent yearly increase.?
Where has he been? Oh yeah, working for the county, where I guess it is still practice to give out double-digit raises regardless of what the economy is doing.
Contrary to what Mr. Pennington and other county officials might think, the average raise for all workers in the U.S. was something less than 4 percent.
For many, there were no raises. And for millions, there aren?t even any jobs to be had at any rate of pay.
We don?t begrudge anyone getting paid what he or she is worth or acknowledging exceptional work with a raise. However, when you consider it is tax money being spent to give officials pay raises of more than 20 percent over the last four years, it just seems a little fiscally irresponsible.
The pay scale for county officials has come under scrutiny with the revelation that some have been receiving family health care coverage, a perk added by what some believe to be questionable means. It makes us wonder what other surprises are in store if we dig a little deeper.
We congratulate the Walton County Taxpayers Association for bringing this matter to light. Our hope is it will continue its survey and share its results with the public. Apparently such a review can?t come soon enough since some think 10 percent is still the norm for an annual raise.
Replies
20Beach Fanatic
Something is not adding up here because I am almost positive I read in the paper that county employees had received zero raises for the last couple of years. Now the Sun says "double digit" raises have been received. Someone is not telling the truth and nothing but the truth.
SWGB
Down with county worker raises. Everybody knows you only get a job in the parks and recreation department for the big bucks!
/sarcasm off/
/sarcasm off/
Beach Comber
All county employees received a $700 raise in 2008 regardless of salary and no raises will be awarded in 2009.
Beach Fanatic
All county employees received a $700 raise in 2008 regardless of salary and no raises will be awarded in 2009.
Thats well short of "double digits" unless someone is really underpaid.
Beach Comber
That is correct; the actual facts need to be posted.
Beach Fanatic
That is correct; the actual facts need to be posted.
If you have them, please post them. I would like to know who is telling the truth.
Beach LoverAuthor
If you have them, please post them. I would like to know who is telling the truth.
Tell me what facts you are looking for and I will gladly post them.
The "Our View" editorial seems to be based on the article in the 7-25 Sun written by Kimberly White.
This paragraph is where the numbers used in the Sun column came from.
According to figures provided by William Pennington, finance director of the clerk?s office, Bell?s salary in October 2005 was $98,255. One month later, he received a nearly $11,000 step increase, bringing his salary to $109,115, Pennington said.
In October 2006, his salary went up more than $4,000, to $113,480, then up again in 2007 nearly $7,000, to $120,391.
Bell?s current salary is $121,091, a difference of more than $7,500 since October 2006 ? but nearly $23,000 since October 2005.
Pennington calculated that Bell and other top officials did receive a 3 percent raise between 2006 and 2007, but added that percentage is much lower than the typical 7 percent to 10 percent yearly increase.
All county employees received a $700.00 raise last year and the current proposed budget for next year has no salary increases for any employee.
Beach Fanatic
Tell me what facts you are looking for and I will gladly post them.
The "Our View" editorial seems to be based on the article in the 7-25 Sun written by Kimberly White.
This paragraph is where the numbers used in the Sun column came from.
According to figures provided by William Pennington, finance director of the clerk?s office, Bell?s salary in October 2005 was $98,255. One month later, he received a nearly $11,000 step increase, bringing his salary to $109,115, Pennington said.
In October 2006, his salary went up more than $4,000, to $113,480, then up again in 2007 nearly $7,000, to $120,391.
Bell?s current salary is $121,091, a difference of more than $7,500 since October 2006 ? but nearly $23,000 since October 2005.
Pennington calculated that Bell and other top officials did receive a 3 percent raise between 2006 and 2007, but added that percentage is much lower than the typical 7 percent to 10 percent yearly increase.
All county employees received a $700.00 raise last year and the current proposed budget for next year has no salary increases for any employee.
As I remember, the $700 increase was just for last year and this year that money will be deleted from there checks. So not only will they not be getting a raise, but will also see a decrease in there pay and they will also be paying for part of their insurance. Oh well those on the lower end of the pay scale were making to much anyway. Let them eat cake. (as SWGB would say) /sarcasm off/
As for Ronnie Bell and what he was making, it was not nearly enough and had they the Commissioners or who ever set his pay, increased it before the bust there would have been very little said. This is a guy who has put in, what, 30 years and rose through the ranks, plus his retirement is based on the highest 3 of last five so at least he will see a pretty decent raise in his retirement.
Beach Fanatic
Tell me what facts you are looking for and I will gladly post them.
The "Our View" editorial seems to be based on the article in the 7-25 Sun written by Kimberly White.
This paragraph is where the numbers used in the Sun column came from.
According to figures provided by William Pennington, finance director of the clerk?s office, Bell?s salary in October 2005 was $98,255. One month later, he received a nearly $11,000 step increase, bringing his salary to $109,115, Pennington said.
In October 2006, his salary went up more than $4,000, to $113,480, then up again in 2007 nearly $7,000, to $120,391.
Bell?s current salary is $121,091, a difference of more than $7,500 since October 2006 ? but nearly $23,000 since October 2005.
Pennington calculated that Bell and other top officials did receive a 3 percent raise between 2006 and 2007, but added that percentage is much lower than the typical 7 percent to 10 percent yearly increase.
All county employees received a $700.00 raise last year and the current proposed budget for next year has no salary increases for any employee.
Thanks for the clarification. Seems to me the editorial is an attempt to sensationalize the issue by using an offhand comment from a county employee in the place of facts. This type of stretching does the less-government movement no good.
Beach Fanatic
As I remember, the $700 increase was just for last year and this year that money will be deleted from there checks. So not only will they not be getting a raise, but will also see a decrease in there pay and they will also be paying for part of their insurance. Oh well those on the lower end of the pay scale were making to much anyway. Let them eat cake. (as SWGB would say) /sarcasm off/
As for Ronnie Bell and what he was making, it was not nearly enough and had they the Commissioners or who ever set his pay, increased it before the bust there would have been very little said. This is a guy who has put in, what, 30 years and rose through the ranks, plus his retirement is based on the highest 3 of last five so at least he will see a pretty decent raise in his retirement.
Where did you hear that they were decreasing all the employees' pay?
I regards to the insurance, I heard that they were not going to charge the employees. It was just an idea.
Beach Fanatic
As I remember, employees were given increases of $700 dollars no matter your pay grade. This was as I understood it for last year only and would not be carried forward, hence the thought that a decrease was coming in the employees pay by $700. As I said this was how I understood the discussion last year. As for the insurance issue I have not heard from anyone that the plan was changing to not charging the employee for part of the insurance cost. Maybe the WCTA has more understanding about this.
Beach LoverAuthor
The $700 was added to base pay. It was not supplemental(on-time) compensation.
The budget presented by OMB INCLUDED a $10.00 per month cost to employees for their medical coverage. This was discussed by Commissioner Pridgen and he expressed a desire to find a way not to charge employee's the $10 per month for their insurance. In Okaloosa County all employees pay $50 per month for their employee coverage.
The budget presented by OMB INCLUDED a $10.00 per month cost to employees for their medical coverage. This was discussed by Commissioner Pridgen and he expressed a desire to find a way not to charge employee's the $10 per month for their insurance. In Okaloosa County all employees pay $50 per month for their employee coverage.
Beach Fanatic
Supplemental was the word I was looking for. What if any, is the difference in compensation paid to Okaloosa employees?
Beach LoverAuthor
Supplemental was the word I was looking for. What if any, is the difference in compensation paid to Okaloosa employees?
I have no salary data from Okaloosa County. The NWFlorida Daily news has an online database that you could look to compare if you wished.
We have an Alliance of Taxpayer Organizations called the Northwest Florida Taxpayers Alliance that might be able to help in securing more information ( the Okaloosa County group might have the data in electronic form that could be used to compare. I will look into it.
Beach Fanatic
Would it change the veiw of the WCTA if the employees of Walton compared to Okaloosa were making less even with the Okaloosa employees paying $50 for their insurance. That is not to say that is true but I would be curious if that would change the veiw? I remember the wage survey and will see if I can find it, thanks.
Beach Fanatic
After reveiwing the numbers supplied by the NWF Daily News, there are 255 employees who make over $50,000. The departments include the Sheriffs office, Property Appraiser, Clerk of Court, Tax Collector and BCC employees. There are 1052 Okaloosa School District employees who make over $50,000. Based on the Okaloosa County web site they have approx 888 employees working for the BCC.
Edited
Beach Fanatic
Walton County BCC have 537 employees and all the Constitutional officers combined have 372.5 employees.
Beach LoverAuthor
Would it change the veiw of the WCTA if the employees of Walton compared to Okaloosa were making less even with the Okaloosa employees paying $50 for their insurance. That is not to say that is true but I would be curious if that would change the veiw? I remember the wage survey and will see if I can find it, thanks.
Our viewpoint on the issue is simple. How can a County Commission begin charging $10.00 per month for each employee (except themselves) for their own personal coverage while receiving a "special benefit" of taxpayer paid family coverage that was done is a very questionable manner. That seems to be a very interesting paradox.
They are asking each department to cut their travel, while continuing to collect a $1019.00 per month travel allowance.
They continue to lay off employee's and reduce some individuals salary by 15% while saying - our salary is set by the State and we cannot reduce our salary.
Everyone else seems to be asked to make a sacrifice during these difficult times but nothing touches their salary and benefits.
SWGB
Our viewpoint on the issue is simple. How can a County Commission begin charging $10.00 per month for each employee (except themselves) for their own personal coverage while receiving a "special benefit" of taxpayer paid family coverage that was done is a very questionable manner. That seems to be a very interesting paradox.
They are asking each department to cut their travel, while continuing to collect a $1019.00 per month travel allowance.
They continue to lay off employee's and reduce some individuals salary by 15% while saying - our salary is set by the State and we cannot reduce our salary.
Everyone else seems to be asked to make a sacrifice during these difficult times but nothing touches their salary and benefits.
Is the salary set or capped at a certain level? Would the state really come in and go after them if they took a pay cut? Somehow I doubt it.
SoWal Expert
Is the salary set or capped at a certain level? Would the state really come in and go after them if they took a pay cut? Somehow I doubt it.
I think it is set based on population, size, or something like that.
But, while their SALARY may be set, I doubt all the extras like health insurance (esp. for their families), travel, etc. are.
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