For county workers, pay raises range from 3.5 percent to zero

Cape Girardeau County commissioners continue budget hearings today, examining figures submitted by the treasurer, auditor and collector offices while casting a wary eye on the overall economic outlook.

Scott and Bollinger's county commissioners are also carefully watching the economy, though their respective budget hearings won't take place until January. The fiscal year for all three counties starts Jan. 1.

In the midst of calculating costs and income, county officials must weigh the value of across-the-board increases for employees.

According to Diane F. Primont, Southeast Missouri State University professor of economics and finance, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that since 2004, state and local government employees have received increases between 3.1 to 3.5 percent. People working in private industry received increases ranging from 2.5 to 3.3 percent during the same years.

Teachers in the Cape Girardeau School District saw a 2 percent increase while Jackson teachers' raise was closer to 3 percent.

In 2008, Cape Girardeau County workers received a 3.5 percent increase; Scott County workers were less fortunate, getting a one-time $300 incentive check that offset a $264 rise in annual health insurance premiums. Bollinger County Presiding Commissioner Wayne Johnson said this year's increase in his county was "between 3 and 4 percent" but that the county does not offer health insurance.

Decisions on how and where to spend county money in 2009 is made based on an estimate of how much money will fill county coffers over the course of the year. Cape Girardeau County's income from retail sales taxes so far this year have been relatively stable, though down by 1 percent rather than growing by the expected 3.5 percent.

Scott County officials face managing a budget after the expiration of a half-cent sales tax that added $1.6 million to the budget, which covered the cost of the new jail. So far this year in Bollinger County, Johnson said, he has seen a drop in receipts.

"Through September, we're about $6,000 total behind on sales tax," he said. "To some counties that wouldn't mean a lot, but to us $6,000 is a lot."

He said he does not want to predict what, if any, pay increase is in store for Bollinger County employees.

In addition to a dip in taxes, rising costs for such things as gas have already been felt by the counties; a series of weather-related disasters this year have also taken a financial toll on county accounts. In Cape Girardeau and Scott counties, health-care costs have also nibbled away at account balances. Cape Girardeau is looking at as much as an 8 percent rise in the cost of health-care premiums.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

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