Tenure, merit not paying off for Houston employees

Houston County has the same problem as the city of Warner Robins with employees who have worked for the county for several years making about the same as new employees in the same job.

The issue is referred to as salary compression, and Warner Robins is considering raising taxes 1 mill to correct the problem.

Houston County isn’t taking that step. Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker talked about the compression issue in presenting the proposed budget for a public hearing Tuesday. The budget includes a 2-percent cost-of-living raise for all full-time employees, but Stalnaker said merit increases would be needed to correct the compression issue. Right now, he said, that would mean a tax increase, which is not factored into the budget.

The county hasn’t had merit increases in nine years, he said, due to slow economic growth.

“We have got to get that merit so we can get some separation on that tenure,” Stalnaker said. “I see light at the end of the tunnel and I think it’s possible in the foreseeable future.”

The budget calls for $55.4 million in general fund spending, which is about $400,000 more than the current year. The new fiscal year starts July 1. The total budget, which includes operations funded by fees, is $108.5 million. Those are 911 service, the fire department, water, trash service, the internal service fund, special revenue funds and the special purpose local option sales tax.

The budget projects revenue equal to the spending amount. The revenues include $44.5 million in taxes, which is mostly property taxes, $5.7 million in permits and fees, $2.2 million in intergovernmental revenue, $2.6 million in court fines and $419,890 for various other revenue.

Stalnaker said it was tough to balance the budget with projected revenue growth expected to be slight.

“Assembling this budget is the most difficult I’ve been involved with in the last seven years,” he said.

Stalnaker said the cost of living raise cost $520,000.

He also noted that the budget does not tap into the reserve fund to achieve balance. He said the county’s reserve fund would pay for operations for seven months. He also noted that the county has no debt.

He also credited department heads, particularly Sheriff Cullen Talton, with presenting reasonable budget requests that didn’t have much fat to cut.

“It has been a hard road to hoe this year and I’m glad we are the point we are at financially,” Stalnaker said.

Only one person spoke in the public hearing, and he praised the county for the budget.

The county’s tax rate is 9.95 mills, which it has been for eight years. The fire tax, which funds fire service in unincorporated areas, also remains at 1.18 mills, which it has been for 11 years. Stalnaker noted that in 1990, the county’s tax rate was 8.97 mills, so it has increased less than a mill in 27 years.

This story was originally published June 20, 2017 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Tenure, merit not paying off for Houston employees."