As the Pulaski County Council tries to clarify the county’s pay structure, department heads continue to express frustration over how it’s been implemented so far. Last month, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston complained that while two of his part-time employees got a pay raise after working for 630 hours with the apparent blessing of the council, the same increase wasn’t given to a third staff member. Now, he says the Auditor’s Office has not only taken away the raises from the first two employees, but that they’re now being asked to pay that money back.
“I was told that the two individuals that I have that did go up to the $15 an hour were going to now be reverted back to their $13-an-hour wage and they would have to pay back all of that money that they made over the $13 for the last six months,” Johnston told council members Monday. “So I’m here tonight to get you guys to make a motion to make sure that that doesn’t happen and set all of this right.”
Auditor Laura Wheeler said the issue stemmed from a conversation that took place during the council’s November meeting. She said council members never specifically approved the pay raises, but agreed to follow the county’s existing policies. At the time, they thought that meant that raises for part-time workers should take effect after 630 hours. But after further review, Wheeler said that timeframe was never actually specified. “I am not authorized to pay above the matrix without you,” she told council members. “You are the board that authorizes this. I am not. But because I did, based on that situation, then I am obligated and I have the duty and I answer to the State Board of Accounts and I have to set them back to the original $13 an hour and I have to make them pay back what we have overpaid them.”
During Monday’s meeting, council members adopted a written set of “Matrix Rules” to help department heads interpret the county’s existing pay structure. Among other things, it removes the pay range for part-time employees and sets it at a flat rate of $14 an hour. However, those currently making more will be allowed to stay at their current pay level.
But even that left some room for confusion. Certain employees that the Highway Department considers part-time would stay at $13 an hour, since they’re technically seasonal full-time employees, under the county’s specifications. Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff said he wasn’t aware that there was a difference, until recently. The new “Matrix Rules” also specify that any changes to the pay structure going forward must be made in the form of a written amendment, in order to be valid.
Council members didn’t make any formal ruling on whether the two Maintenance Department employees should be paid $14 or $15 from now on, or how Auditor Wheeler should correct the issues. However, Council President Jay Sullivan said he didn’t think it was fair to make the employees pay back the additional money.
It appeared that the two employees may remain at $15 an hour, since that amount was kind of approved by the council back in November. Still, Maintenance Supervisor Johnston left his appointment with the council saying he had no idea what just happened.
