Committee Moves Bill to Allow County Employee Pay Increases

A Senate committee Friday approved Senate Bill 379 to remove a salary cap for county employees, if the county finds they have the funds.

Originally the bill required a 12 percent pay raise, but it was amended to ensure lawmakers weren’t passing an unfunded mandate.

“We are not voting for an increase for elected officials. We are lifting a cap in which they can work with their own money. So, this is no state money,” Sen. John Unger said during the meeting.

Committee counsel assured him there was no state money involved. Lawmakers were simply authorizing a county commission to give the increase if they could afford it.

Senator Bill Laird, a former county commissioner, said this bill helps to ensure quality people are stepping into county positions and are being properly compensated for their hard work.