County Officials to Get Pay Raise

May 3, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

County officials here and across the state are getting a pay raise this year.

Compensation for most county officials is governed by state law which establishes the minimum for Assessors of Property, County Clerks, Clerks of Court, Trustees, Registers of Deeds, County Mayors, Sheriffs, and Highway Officials. This law provides for an automatic increase in the minimum salary each year based on the percentage increase given to state employees for the previous fiscal year.

The state commissioner of finance and administration certified on October 5, 2018, that state employees received an average increase of 2.5 percent for the fiscal year 2018-2019.

The salaries of the county officials are partly based on the population class of the county and the office. Not all office holders earn the same amount of pay.

Under state law:

•The County Mayor’s compensation shall be at least 5% higher than the salary paid to any other county constitutional officer.

•The Sheriff’s salary shall be at least 10% higher than the salary paid to the general officers of the county.

•The Road Supervisor’s compensation shall be at least 10% higher than the salary paid to the general officers of the county.

•The salary of the General Sessions Judge is to be increased annually in the same manner as state court judges, which is the actual percentage change in the consumer price index between the two previous calendar years. The CPI change between 2017 and 2018 has not been calculated at this time. When released, the increase in salary of the general sessions court judges will be updated for the coming fiscal year.

•The Administrator of Elections salary is 90% of the base salary of the Assessor of Property.

The new salary schedule as set by the state for DeKalb County effective July 1 is as follows:

•General Sessions/Juvenile Court Judge: Currently $94,093 per year (To be updated later)
•County Mayor: $85,435 per year, up from $83,238.
•Road Supervisor: $81,368, up from $79,276
•Sheriff: $81,368, up from $79,276
•Trustee: $73,971, up from $72,069
•County Clerk: $73,971, up from $72,069
•Circuit Court Clerk: $73,971, up from $72,069
•Clerk and Master: $73,971, up from $72,069
•Register of Deeds: $73,971, up from $72,069
•Assessor of Property: $73,971, up from $72,069
•Administrator of Elections: $66,574, up from $64,862

May 3, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The Board of Education wants to give teachers and other certified personnel a $2,000 pay raise and is asking the county commission for sufficient funding to help make it happen.

During a brief special called meeting Friday morning, the Board approved a proposed budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year which includes pay raises for teachers and support staff.

(PART 1 BELOW)

(PART 2 BELOW)

IMG_5803 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

If approved, the actual local increase for the 225 teachers would be $1,200 each since the state is funding an $800 raise per teacher. The 200 non-certified staff members would get a $600 pay raise, all funded by local dollars.

The Board of Education plans to purchase Chrome Books for the 3rd through 5th grades for the new school year. Students from the 6th grade through high school already have Chrome Books. One new bus is usually purchased each year. The board plans to buy two buses next year along with a new work truck for the maintenance department. The total cost of the buses would be around $220,000. No new money would be needed to fund the extra bus, the work truck, or the Chrome Books. Sufficient funds can be shifted within the line items of the school budget to pay for them.

A total of $50,000 has been budgeted as incentive pay for teachers. According to Director Patrick Cripps, the money would be distributed as a bonus or reward money among deserving educators for going above and beyond their duties, such as writing grants, etc.

The proposed 2019-20 school budget comes to $24,235,000 including an expected increase in state BEP funding of almost $600,000.

The county commission’s budget committee will get its first look at the proposed spending plan for schools when it meets Wednesday night, May 8 at 5:00 p.m. at the courthouse.

May 3, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A DeKalb County Neighbors Helping Neighbors Blood Assurance Drive will be Monday, May 13 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the County Complex Senior Citizens Center inside the Bloodmobile.

All donors will be given a FREE “Never Stop Saving Lives” t-shirt. All donors will also be entered for a chance to win a $250 gift card to REI.

To schedule an appointment, go to Bloodassurance.org/dekalb or contact Jimmy Poss at 615-464-7426 or jmposs72@yahoo.com.

Please remember to EAT A GOOD MEAL and drink additional water and bring a photo ID.

Blood Assurance is the SOLE blood provider for our local hospitals

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