Nonunion employees who work for Butler County will get a pay increase next year.
The approximately 150 workers will receive a 2.5 percent pay hike. They just received a 2.5 percent hike this year.
The increases do take into account the newly-established Butler County Compensation Policy, which was derived from a salary study done by an outside company. Each position has a designated pay range scale. The pay hike that will take effect in January will not been given to those individuals who are at the top of their pay scale.
The commissioners said they have no plans of raising taxes and will continue to cut spending in other areas. The board did not raise taxes for 2017.
County Controller Ben Holland, who did vote for the increase, did so with faith in the commissioners.
“I’m trusting that you will put together a budget and hold the line on taxes,” Holland said.
Commissioner Kim Geyer said the board has no intention of raising taxes.
“We wanted to pass this now, which is early, so we can integrate these numbers into next year’s budget,” she said. “We will continue to cut spending (in other areas). We’re taking measures to be cost-effective.”
Commissioner Leslie Osche said you can’t look at things solely through a fiscal lens.
“If you’re leading in a way that best benefits the county, you have to look at things long-term,” she said. “You have to make investments that have a return. There is a lot to consider.”
Osche reiterated Geyer’s sentiment that the board has no intentions of raising taxes.
Holland, though not disagreeing, did make it clear that he believes Butler County well compensates their employees.
“When a full-time position opens at the county, there is a line out the door,” he said. “Some counties don’t give raises in years. Some raise healthcare costs. We owe it to our taxpayers to compare.”