By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County government finances have stayed solid during the COVID pandemic. But the status of county employees is a little shaky – with the government offices feeling the squeeze of the labor market and wage pressures from higher paying employers in the region.
So when the Wood County Commissioners approved their budget for 2022 on Tuesday, they took an unusual step. For the first time, at least in recent memory, they granted 4% raises to county employees – plus awarded lump sum payments for the year.
“In the past year it has become increasingly difficult to attract people to fill vacant county jobs,” Wood County Administrator Andrew Kalmar said.
Usually, the annual salary raises range between 1.5% and 3%, dipping down to no raises at least one year during the Great Recession.
These are unusual times, Kalmar said. The 4% raises are intended to reflect the value of the county employees, the rising costs due to inflation, and the desire to thank employees for continuing to work throughout the ongoing pandemic.
“We appreciate them sticking around,” Kalmar said.
Like many employers, the county has seen an exodus of employees during the last two years.
“We lose people who are in the lower third of the pay scale,” Kalmar said.
Some find better paying jobs, and some have decided to stay home with their children due to daycare or schooling issues.
Replacing those workers is difficult, and the commissioners are hearing from department heads that the quality of new applicants has declined.
In order to further sweeten the pot for existing employees, the county commissioners also approved lump sum payments for 2022. The lump sums are higher for those employees with lower salaries.
“It just felt this was a good way to get money in the hands of people who need it most,” Kalmar said.
The lump sums are as follows:
- Regular, full-time employees currently being paid $46,000 or less shall receive a lump sum payment of $2,000.
- Regular, full-time employees currently being paid greater than $46,000 up to $62,000 will receive a lump sum payment of $1,000.
- Regular, full-time employees currently being paid between $62,000 and $72,000 will receive a lump sum payment of $500.
- All regular part-time employees working a minimum of 20 hours a week will receive a lump sum payment of $500.
These lump sum payments will be paid half in January, and half in July.
The budget, as presented on Tuesday, reflects healthy revenue for Wood County government. The county commissioners approved 2022 appropriations totaling $47.6 million. That amount is 4.62% higher than the appropriations for 2021.
Robust sales tax collections have been a lifesaver, helping the county remain in a strong financial position.
“Sales tax is what’s towing the line for us,” Kalmar said.
In 2020, the county’s share of sales tax revenue was $24.5 million. This year, that increased by nearly $1.9 million. It helped that a change in the law has allowed the county to receive sales tax from online purchases since 2019, Kalmar said.
The only significant revenue source for the county that declined appreciably is interest income – a direct result of interest rates remaining below 1%.
Two of the larger capital projects approved for next year are the renovation and expansion of the Wood County Jail for an estimated $21 million, and modifications to Courtroom 2.
Also expected next year is further discussion about relocating the county highway garage that is currently located on East Poe Road in Bowling Green. The commissioners are looking at moving the highway garage to the county’s East Gypsy Lane Road complex.
General fund requests for new personnel in 2022 totaled $352,188. Of these requests, two new full-time positions were approved:
- Application development manager to assist the courts with information technology.
- One new sheriff’s deputy for road patrol, the cost of which will be reimbursed through a township policing agreement.
Requests for wage adjustments for specific positions in four offices totaled $151,663. Of this amount, $136,078 was approved. Due to funding reductions in several grants and further reduction of funding from delinquent property tax collections, $160,123 of costs will be absorbed by the county’s general fund. This is in addition to $124,256 in similar costs that were added to the general fund in 2021.
The 4% wage increase is designated for employees in all commissioners’ departments, as well as those in the prosecutor’s, recorder’s, court security and public defender’s offices for 2022.
An increase to reflect this percentage will also be made to the salary line items, not including grants, for all remaining elected officials and general fund departments to be distributed as they see fit to current staff.
