By Rosemary Horvath
Herald Correspondent
[private]Salary increases for personnel and elected officials underscores sound financial footing for Gratiot County during the next fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
County commissioners reviewed raises for elected officials starting out at one percent, but without much discussion last week, opted to go with four percent increases for most positions.
This puts new salaries for treasurer at $66,851.24; clerk, $67,692.42; drain commissioner, $68,659; register of deeds, $66,277; and prosecutor, $115,135.
Commissioner George Bailey, chair of the county finance committee, pushed for a resolution setting a policy on requiring percentage salary increases for elected officials to reflect the same percentage staff members receive.
“It’s a good thing for everybody,” he said.
Last month, raises placed before the commission ranged from 1 percent up to 3 1/2 percent. Then Chairman Sam Smith requested a chart showing four percent changes.
Commissioners except for Jan Bunting who was absent endorsed four percent across the board with a few exceptions.
Undersheriff and sheriff have their own scale. The undersheriff position will change to “salary supported exempt from overtime.” This new salary as of Oct. 1 will be $84,540.46, which is a five percent increase above the current salary.
The sheriff will receive $94,685.32 which is a 12 percent increase above the current salary.
Negotiations for road deputies and corrections officers had not been settled in time for the meeting last week.
Unions that had settled include TPOAM, or Technical, Professional and Office Workers Association. Wages will increase by 2.5 percent.
COAM salary schedule for road patrol increases by nine percent as of this Oct. 1 and by five percent as of Oct. 1, 2024.
Members of the Governmental Employees Labor Council receives a 2.5 percent increase.
Neither the board chair nor commissioners will receive a bump in salary.
A chairman will continue to receive $14,900 annually while a commissioner receives $14,400. Members also receive mileage when attending assigned meetings in their districts.
Deputy County Administrator Sheila Barnaby explained the county board is regulated by policy when it can increase its wages which last occurred Fall of 2022 and went into effect Jan. 1, 2023.
In another area, personnel retention underlined approval for reclassifying positions in the prosecutor’s office and at Commission on Aging as recommended by County Administrator Chris Oosterhoff.
Prosecutor Laura Bever said low salaries paid to attorneys in her office can’t compare to other options they can find elsewhere. An opening for a fourth assistant prosecutor has gone unfilled as a result.
Commissioners agreed to set higher salaries for positions exempt from overtime.
Chief assistant salary will increase from $65,079 to $86,466 with the highest step increase set at $105,206.
Assistant prosecutor positions will increase from $52,349 and $65,853 to $73,778 up to $89,773.
As for the Commission on Aging slots, Director Jennifer Cook’s request received approval for making the head cook positions full-time./private]