Mentone Gives Pay Raises after Town Marshal Claims Unfairness
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
MENTONE – After Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads called it “unfair” not to give town employees raises, the Mentone Town Council reworked its budget.
Eads and the other town employees will see pay bumps.
The town council voted to give Eads a 3-percent pay bump. That amounts to an increase of $1,232.
The other town employees will receive the same amount in 2013.
That also caused the town’s Public Employee Retirement Fund to increase by $300.
The town council came up with a budget that would increase the general fund from $423,504 in 2012 to $439,921 in 2013.
The motor vehicle highway fund saw a proposed increase of $33,960 in 2012 to $39,400 in 2013.
The cemetery fund was proposed to stand pat at $4,200 while the town’s Cumulative Capital Improvement fund would also stay at the 2012 level of $6,000.
The Economic Development Income Tax fund was increased to $127,000 for 2013 from $72,000 in 2012.
The town’s fund of riverboat money received from the state stayed at $16,000.
The town’s local roads and street fund was bumped up from its 2012 level of $13,000 to a proposed $14,000 for 2013.
The budget can’t be finalized until Mentone Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross meets with the state to go over the numbers.
At that time, state auditors may ask the budget to be revised.
Ross is scheduled to meet with state officials July 23.
Ross was also given a 3-percent raise.
Board member Jill Gross suggested that payroll be the last item discussed when the board looks at the town’s 2014 budget next year.
Eads and Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd both said raises were warranted.
“It’s funny you can have me make a decision on $91,000 and don’t give me a raise,” said Shepherd.
“It’s unfair to not give us a raise. To give us a 0. To me it’s a shocker,” said Eads. “(To give us a raise) it’s not a budget breaker.”
Board member Shelly Krueger was asked by Eads why she didn’t vote for pay raises.
Krueger said she wasn’t aware that the budget was final.
At that point, the board looked at what they could offer.
Gross asked what Eads would like to see in terms of raises.
“I wouldn’t want to see anything less than 3,” said Eads.
Eads suggested his 3-percent amount be given to the other employees.
“Even though that’s kind of unfair to me,” said Eads.
The police department’s ammo budget was also increased from $1,000 to $2,000.
Two town projects were included for the 2013 budget.
One is to paint the town’s water tower. Shepherd said the estimated cost of that project is $25,000.
Another project is for a new water main that would run up Morgan Street and loop into Broadway Street. That project is estimated at $66,000.
Ross also told the council that insurance premiums are expected to increase by at least 10 percent.
Ross said electric rates went up as well.
Follow staff writer Daniel Riordan on Twitter at @TUNews_Riordan
