After a lengthy discussion by Flint Hills Community Health Center board members Tuesday afternoon, employees of the center will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living raise effective Jan. 1.
Despite being down two providers, the budget numbers for October looked good, said Lougene Marsh, executive director of the center. But, Marsh added, the numbers looked good because of the mass vaccination flu clinic which brought around $25,000 in revenue and some grant money and county appropriation came in.
Marsh said when the 2008 budget was put together, a 3.25 percent merit raise for employees was built into the budget. There’s already some cushion in the budget, but not enough to say it’s all right to go ahead with that original figure. Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, board members approved an amendment to the 2008 budget, which reflected 2008 appropriations from Lyon County.
Danica Case, secretary and treasurer of the board, said the finance committee met to discuss various options for 2008 raises.
“To not give a raise, we hurt morale,” Case said. “To do nothing, we would just lose our providers and clinical staff. ...”
Case said the finance committee’s recommendation was to bring it to the board of directors, which sets policy. The board also sets the policy for employee evaluations.
Marsh said a 1-percent cost-of-living increase in pay across the board would cost about $27,000. That number includes benefits. A 2 percent raise would cost about $54,000 with benefits included.
Board members kicked around the idea of delaying the vote on the raise until the next meeting on Dec. 18. Marsh said it would give the center enough time to implement whatever raise was agreed upon.
After discussion, however, board members decided to go ahead and vote on the motion, which stated that a 1 percent raise would be implemented on Jan. 1. In June, revenue flows will be evaluated and the raise policy will be reviewed. Board members will re-visit the issue at next month’s meeting based on November’s financial numbers and see if any increase can be made.
A new evaluation format will proceed as planned, but will not be linked to raises yet.
In other business and in written reports:
F A grant proposal was submitted to the Emporia Community Foundation by Evelyn Smith to support Great Expectations, a program to support pregnant women. The center received a notification of approval of $1,960.
F Flu and pneumonia vaccine is still being offered in Public Health from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
F The dental clinic had 364 patient visits in October with 19 scheduled days for an average of 19.2 patients per day.
HometownGirl (anonymous) says...
How ridiculous to think that a one-percent cost of living raise is adequate. Are these Board members buying gasoline? milk? bread? 1% is pathetic. How unfortunate that the Flint Hills Community Health Center Board members failed to see that such a meager increase is nearly as demoralizing as no increase at all. The employees who do such good work deserve better!
November 28, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yellow82 (anonymous) says...
I agree with HometownGirl, 1% is a slap in the face. Let's put this in prespective, if one made $10 and recieved a 1% raise they would make a whole $4 more a week, that would just be taken for taxes.
November 28, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )