By JESSICA BRICKER
Following recent retirements in two county offices, the council has agreed to restructure those offices and give the current deputies raises.
The request came before the Wells County Council Tuesday from Auditor Lisa McCormick and Clerk Beth Davis. Each had a deputy retire, which led to them deciding to absorb those duties by the current deputies and request that their deputies get compensated $3,000 each for the extra work.
Factoring in salary and benefits — the deputies in those offices get paid the same — the county would save more than $100,000 by not filling the two positions. There are four deputies in McCormick’s office and six in Davis’ office that would then get raises from those funds. The elected officials indicated they will request raises for themselves along the same line come 2023 budget time.
There were some concerns aired by the council, particularly from Chuck King and Scott Elzey, that equity the council strives for among the rest of the offices would now be skewed, as King put it. Elzey wanted to know how the new salaries compare to other deputies’ pay in the courthouse.
Also discussed were concerns about setting a precedent for other department leaders to ask for similar raises for their deputies.
The council was told the deputy auditors and clerks have already absorbed the extra duties and the raises would be effective immediately.
It was then unanimously approved.
jessica@news-banner.com
