The Starke County Council members went through budgets with department heads Monday afternoon. They were asked to put in an additional five percent in the budgets for a potential pay increase. However, based upon what the state may cut from the 2023 budget, employees may not get that much of a raise.
The council members agreed to look at a little more of an increase for dispatchers as it has been several years since an increase has been given to the dispatchers. The council also agreed to increase deputy coroner calls to $95 and look into longevity pay for elected officials. Auditor Rachel Oesterreich noted that longevity would work like regular employee longevity. There would be a $500 increase after working five years, and then at 10 years there would be a $1,000 increase. It would increase $500 every five years.
They also reviewed the pay for the surveyor as there had been an error in calculating the surveyor’s pay based upon certain certifications.
A formal budget adoption is not anticipated until this fall.
During their regular meeting, the council approved the expense of $13,581 for new promethean boards for the SCILL Center. SCILL Center Executive Director Jim Hernandez brought forth the request, along with funding assistance to fund air conditioning repairs at the SCILL Center, which was approved by the commissioners, but that portion of the request was denied as they noted that the county does not own the SCILL Center building.
The expense will come out of $40,000 in funds set aside to be used for needs by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation and the SCILL Center.
