The Pulaski County Council has finalized the 2020 salary matrix for county employees. Many of the changes approved Monday were designed to bring the matrix in line with the 2020 budget.
The part-time microfilm position was removed, since its funding was cut. The IT director position was also taken out because the county commissioners have decided to continue using an outside contractor.
The biggest discussion had to do with the airport manager position. The council finalized a raise from $12.70 to $15 an hour, despite opposition from Council Member Ken Boswell. “We’ve given nobody any increases,” he explained. “We said that we’re going to leave the 2020 budget the same as it was in 2019.”
“So you would prefer to have the airport manager making $12.70 an hour?” asked Council Member Kathi Thompson.
“That’s what he made in 2019 versus the rest. Yes,” Boswell replied.
There was some confusion, as Council President Jay Sullivan thought the airport manager was still technically a part-time position, but others noted that it’s been full-time for years.
Council members also decided to bring the veteran service officer’s hourly pay back to $15, after the proposed matrix apparently would have lowered it to $14.
In the end, the county council approved the 2020 salary matrix by a vote of four-to-two, with Mike Tiede and Boswell opposing. Scott Hinkle was not in attendance.
