By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Carter County fiscal court held a special meeting on May 30, with the second reading of the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, discussion of a proposed offer to purchase a property adjacent to the courthouse, and personnel concerns on the agenda. The court also went into executive session, but no action was taken during that session.
The change in pay for county employees dominated the meeting resulting in a raise in wages for full-time employees and a change of pay for new hires and part-time employees. Starting pay for full-time employees going forward from July 1 of 2024 will be at $14.50 per hour, and current employees will also receive a pay increase. Current employees making $14.30 per hour and above will receive a five percent pay increase, and any employees earning below $14.30 will receive a pay increase to $14.50 per hour. Part-time employees will be starting out at $13 per hour, which will take effect this month. The court also voted to hire three part-time employees for the road department.
Carter County Jailer R.W. Boggs addressed the court concerning the pay scale for promotions in his department. Boggs said that it would not affect the 24-25 year budget, but he would like to see an increase in the raises his employees receive upon being promoted to a higher rank. Under the current format, a promotion to Sergeant, for example, includes a one dollar per hour raise. Boggs said that this isn’t an accurate reflection for the increased workload and responsibilities for the position, and he would like to see that become a two dollar per hour raise in wages.
Boggs said that currently all raises are one dollar across the board, regardless of promotion level. He said that he would like to see a promotion of deputy to sergeant yield a two dollar raise, and sergeant to lieutenant receive an additional two dollar increase in wages. That change, Boggs said, makes advancement more worthwhile and would make the employees more career minded.
The court voted to approve the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, as well as approving the scheduled claims and transfers. The court also discussed beginning negotiations for a lease agreement with First Baptist for court parking during the court’s regular business hours. The need for the lease is in part due to difficulties in the proposed purchase of a piece of property adjacent to the courthouse. The property in question was appraised by a commercial appraiser at $241,000, and that appraisal was for less than what the current owner is asking for purchase.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
