By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County employees will see a 4% raise in the new year, and the addition of four new positions – thanks in part to shoppers spending their dollars at stores throughout the county.
County commissioners Craig LaHote, Ted Bowlus and Doris Herringshaw voted Thursday morning to approve appropriations for 2024. The appropriations increased 4.97%, with a total $52.6 million compared to $50.2 million for 2023.
Revenue for the county remains strong, said Dan Scherger, assistant county administrator. Sales tax receipts came in at $28.9 million, a 1.35% increase over 2022.
“While the increase is lower than recent years, it continues a several year trend of positive growth,” Scherger said.
The investment income more than offset the slowed growth in sales tax, with receipts through November of $6.1 million, he said.
“This represents a more than $4.5 million increase over 2022,” Scherger said. “Investment income is expected to remain relatively strong in 2024.”
The 4% raise granted to county employees is intended to recognize the efforts of existing employees, and attract and retain employees as the labor market tightens and wage pressures increase, he said.
LaHote acknowledged it’s getting tougher to attract and retain employees to county government jobs. The county’s benefits used to be a plum that attracted workers.
“The younger generation doesn’t value that as much as in the past,” LaHote said, adding that the commissioners hope the 4% increase will help.
The raise will go to employees in the commissioners’ departments, as well as those in the prosecutor’s, recorder’s, court security and public defender’s offices. An increase of 4% will also be made to the salary line items for all remaining elected officials and general fund departments to distribute as they see fit.
The four additional positions created in the budget include a maintenance worker to support the jail expansion, an information technology support person, a veterans services officer, and a clerical deputy for the sheriff’s office.
Herringshaw said it’s very unusual for the commissioners to create new positions.
“We’re usually not very excited about adding positions,” she said. “They all proved to us the need.”
LaHote thanked county elected officials and department heads for delaying some of their funding requests. And Herringshaw commented on economic development successes and thanked county residents for shopping local. Wood County’s sales tax remains in the bottom third of the rates in the state, at 6.75%. The county gets 1% while the rest goes to the state, LaHote said.
The budget includes money for:
- $108,834 for heavy rifle plated vests and ballistic helmets for the sheriff’s office road patrol. New duty weapons for all certified deputies will replace the current 17-year-old weapons.
- Six hybrid Ford Explorer patrol vehicles that were planned for 2024 at a total cost of $375,522 were ordered in 2023 – but due to availability at state bid pricing, they will likely be received in early 2024.
- $54,000 for Common Pleas Court 4 upgrades, including carpeting, jury box seating and restroom updates.
- $276,000 for renovation of Common Pleas Court 1 staff area and new furniture.
- $70,000 for consulting services for a land use plan update.
- Replacement of the roof on the Juvenile Detention Center.
- Replacement of servers and technology infrastructure for the IT department.
- The previously approved Domestic Relations Court space study will begin in early 2024, and will include the evaluation of the first floor of the courthouse.
Capital projects addressed in the budget:
- The $28 million jail expansion and renovation project is approximately 65% finished and remains on schedule to be completed in September. Contractors have nearly completed the new booking area and are now focusing on the medical area renovation and female housing construction.
- The landfill expansion is projected to start in April 2024, and be completed in October. The first phase of expansion will cover 7.4 acres, and cost approximately $3 million.
Some projects put on hold included new dispatch consoles for the sheriff’s office, and a request for renovations of the Job and Family Services building.
