Sun "Our View" 7-25-09

[Just Curious]

As I remember, the $700 increase was just for last year and this year that money will be deleted from there checks. So not only will they not be getting a raise, but will also see a decrease in there pay and they will also be paying for part of their insurance. Oh well those on the lower end of the pay scale were making to much anyway. Let them eat cake. (as SWGB would say) /sarcasm off/
As for Ronnie Bell and what he was making, it was not nearly enough and had they the Commissioners or who ever set his pay, increased it before the bust there would have been very little said. This is a guy who has put in, what, 30 years and rose through the ranks, plus his retirement is based on the highest 3 of last five so at least he will see a pretty decent raise in his retirement.

Where did you hear that they were decreasing all the employees' pay?
I regards to the insurance, I heard that they were not going to charge the employees. It was just an idea.

 

[Bob Wells]

As I remember, employees were given increases of $700 dollars no matter your pay grade. This was as I understood it for last year only and would not be carried forward, hence the thought that a decrease was coming in the employees pay by $700. As I said this was how I understood the discussion last year. As for the insurance issue I have not heard from anyone that the plan was changing to not charging the employee for part of the insurance cost. Maybe the WCTA has more understanding about this.

 

[WCTA]

The $700 was added to base pay. It was not supplemental(on-time) compensation.

The budget presented by OMB INCLUDED a $10.00 per month cost to employees for their medical coverage. This was discussed by Commissioner Pridgen and he expressed a desire to find a way not to charge employee's the $10 per month for their insurance. In Okaloosa County all employees pay $50 per month for their employee coverage.

 

[Bob Wells]

Supplemental was the word I was looking for. What if any, is the difference in compensation paid to Okaloosa employees?

 

[WCTA]

Supplemental was the word I was looking for. What if any, is the difference in compensation paid to Okaloosa employees?

I have no salary data from Okaloosa County. The NWFlorida Daily news has an online database that you could look to compare if you wished.

We have an Alliance of Taxpayer Organizations called the Northwest Florida Taxpayers Alliance that might be able to help in securing more information ( the Okaloosa County group might have the data in electronic form that could be used to compare. I will look into it.

 

[Bob Wells]

Would it change the veiw of the WCTA if the employees of Walton compared to Okaloosa were making less even with the Okaloosa employees paying $50 for their insurance. That is not to say that is true but I would be curious if that would change the veiw? I remember the wage survey and will see if I can find it, thanks.

 

[Bob Wells]

After reveiwing the numbers supplied by the NWF Daily News, there are 255 employees who make over $50,000. The departments include the Sheriffs office, Property Appraiser, Clerk of Court, Tax Collector and BCC employees. There are 1052 Okaloosa School District employees who make over $50,000. Based on the Okaloosa County web site they have approx 888 employees working for the BCC.

 

[Bob Wells]

Walton County BCC have 537 employees and all the Constitutional officers combined have 372.5 employees.

 

[WCTA]

Would it change the veiw of the WCTA if the employees of Walton compared to Okaloosa were making less even with the Okaloosa employees paying $50 for their insurance. That is not to say that is true but I would be curious if that would change the veiw? I remember the wage survey and will see if I can find it, thanks.

Our viewpoint on the issue is simple. How can a County Commission begin charging $10.00 per month for each employee (except themselves) for their own personal coverage while receiving a "special benefit" of taxpayer paid family coverage that was done is a very questionable manner. That seems to be a very interesting paradox.

They are asking each department to cut their travel, while continuing to collect a $1019.00 per month travel allowance.

They continue to lay off employee's and reduce some individuals salary by 15% while saying - our salary is set by the State and we cannot reduce our salary.

Everyone else seems to be asked to make a sacrifice during these difficult times but nothing touches their salary and benefits.

 

[Matt J]

Our viewpoint on the issue is simple. How can a County Commission begin charging $10.00 per month for each employee (except themselves) for their own personal coverage while receiving a "special benefit" of taxpayer paid family coverage that was done is a very questionable manner. That seems to be a very interesting paradox.

They are asking each department to cut their travel, while continuing to collect a $1019.00 per month travel allowance.

They continue to lay off employee's and reduce some individuals salary by 15% while saying - our salary is set by the State and we cannot reduce our salary.

Everyone else seems to be asked to make a sacrifice during these difficult times but nothing touches their salary and benefits.

Is the salary set or capped at a certain level? Would the state really come in and go after them if they took a pay cut? Somehow I doubt it.