Cape County workers in line for raise; commission meets today

The Cape Girardeau County Commission will review the county's $12 million budget, which includes a 3.5 percent pay increase for county employees, at 10 a.m. today during a regular meeting.

"I said when we began the budget process that our first priority is to give all of our employee raises," said Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones.

He said in his opinion "our most valuable resource is the people that service the public in county government. I'd rather do without a road grader or a computer or something else and end up giving our employees the raises they so well deserve."

The two associate commissioners had little to say about the raises. Newcomer Paul Koeper, 1st District commissioner, said he did not want to speak before seeing the final document. Second District Commissioner Jay Purcell said he was not aware the budget was on today's agenda but "planned to talk about ways to cut expenses."

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. today on the third floor of the administration building, 1 Barton Square in Jackson.