Lyon County department heads will be asked to present two possible budgets for 2010 — one that mirrors 2009’s budget and one that reflects a possible 2-percent raise for employees.
Lyon County commissioners discussed 2010’s budget for the county Thursday morning with County Controller Dan Slater. Many topics were discussed including salaries and wages, which is the largest chunk of the county’s budget.
“When we start preparing the budgets,” Slater said. “That’s the place that affects a lot of people. Knowing what we are going to do as far as salaries and wages is the first step.”
The last time county employees received an across the board raise was 2008, which was the first time since 2004.
Lyon County Commissioners Scott Briggs, Rollie Martin and Teresa Walters met with department heads and a common thread that resulted out of those discussions was salary increases. Briggs said nearly every department head that he spoke to brought up the topic.
“Almost everyone thought that their employees deserve an increase,” Briggs said. “All of them indicated they understood the economic times...”
Martin said he didn’t realize county employees only received one raise in five years. Martin said county employees have quite a few benefits that don’t necessarily turn into dollars, including vacation, sick leave and health insurance. Still, Martin said it could be difficult to “gain enough efficiency to give a raise without collecting more tax dollars.”
Walters said the department heads she talked to also brought up salaries and market-base comparisons, stating that employees are underpaid.
The topic also shifted to the possibility of adding staff.
“Adding employees right now would be difficult,” Slater said.
Martin said he would like to see two different budgets — one that maintains the status quo and one that reflects 2-percent raises. He also wants to know how the budgets would affect tax dollars and the mill levy.
Earlier in the conversation, Slater said the biggest part of 2010’s budget is going to be funded by monies not spent during 2009. He said the impact on the sales tax that is being collected starting in July won’t be as bad as anticipated and the county likely will start about $200,000 to $300,000 light on cash carry-forward.
“Which is a lot of money, but it’s not earth-shattering,” Slater said.