The commission approved the raise during its Monday, Feb. 26 meeting. Cherokee County retirees initially requested the raise this past Fall, but the commission tabled any action until the first of the year and then tabled the issue until February to determine the state of the county's finances.
The commission was faced with an "all or nothing" option. They could either grant the full 7 percent as mandated by the state or they could vote to give no increase at all.
According to the agreement, the increase will be retroactive to October 2006. Retirees will not seek another COLA for three years, giving them about a 2.3 percent increase per year.
Commissioner Lori Owens abstained from the vote, noting that she has had concerns with some of the inequities of the current county pay scale which need to be addressed.
The other commissioner agreed and agreed to work with Owens and county employees on correcting these inequities
Post a Comment