A three percent cost of living raise for hourly workers with Grady County that was budgeted in the 2019 spending plan will begin to be paid to workers in July.
The Grady County Commission had included the raise in the 2019 budget, but on the advice of County Administrator J.C. (Buddy) Johnson III, had not implemented the raise on Jan. 1 as usual.
“We said we would revisit it closer to midyear and make a decision at that time. While our overall budget is tight, specifically in operational costs, we do feel comfortable in the area of salaries,” Johnson said during the commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening.
The three percent raise will be paid only to hourly employees and no salaried employee will receive the mid-year raise. Johnson said the fiscal impact is $69,3000.
The county administrator also shared with the board this week his plan to propose a two to two-and-a-half percent across the board raise for all employees including himself in the proposed 2020 operating budget. According to Johnson, constitutional officers are receiving mandated raises in 2020 and 2021.
In related business, Johnson also recommended the hiring of a part-time employee to serve as a utility position primarily to assist the Building and Grounds Department. The fiscal impact is an increase in the county’s payroll expense of $8,100 and the new employee will be paid $10 per hour. The funding will be taken out of the commissioner’s office budget for the remainder of this year, according to the county administrator.
Johnson plans to advertise the position and hire someone as soon as possible.
