For the second consecutive year, Jefferson County is looking to give county employees a pay raise. But with turnover high in several departments, commissioners are questioning whether the proposed pay hike is enough.
The was given to the Oct. 7 with one of the highlights being a 2 percent pay increase for county employees. The raises are based on merit: A supervisor could, for example, give one employee a 3 percent raise and another a 1 percent raise. There is also money budgeted for a 5 percent increase in cost of benefits.
Last year, employees received a 3 percent raise, according to county administrator Ralph Schell.
The high turnover rates in several of the county’s departments, such as the Sheriff’s Office and Human Services, were highlighted as reasons for the increase, but the commissioners wondered how the 2 percent figure was arrived at and whether it is enough to stop employees from leaving.
“I want to know why (staff) put those numbers,” Commissioner Don Rosier said. “I hate to go into it blindly.”
With approximately 650 employees, Human Services — which handles issues with children and with unemployed, disabled and elderly residents, among others — is one of the largest departments in the county, but has a turnover rate of 24.7 percent, double the market average. The county’s overall attrition rate is more than 17 percent.
Human Services executive director Lynn Johnson said a 2 percent raise would not make up for the cost-of-living increases during the past six years. Her employees typically start at around $30,000 per year. Johnson said she has tried to raise morale among her employees but has found that if the money isn’t there, it won’t keep people around.
“We found that in spite of what we can do, if you aren’t adequately paid, it doesn’t eliminate stress,” Johnson said.
Any turnover is a major setback for the department, according to Johnson, who said that a replacement must go through an eight-week training academy before starting the job, leaving a void for those weeks.
Last year, Human Services asked for $400,000 a year over three years to help with some of the pay issues. Johnson said they received the funds this year.
Overall, total expenditures in the county budget are estimated at about $474 million, a 1.4 percent decrease from last year. Schell said that is a result of fewer capital improvement projects, such as one at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport that cost nearly $12 million.
County staff also emphasized keeping the general fund at $25 million in case emergency funds are needed.
The commissioners and county staff will continue to discuss the budget before it needs to be adopted on Dec. 9.
Commissioner Casey Tighe said paying employees a better wage is very important and will prevent other municipalities from coming in and poaching workers.
“Clearly it’s a priority,” Tighe said. “We have really good employees.”
Proposed budget
To see Jefferson County’s 2015 proposed budget, go to
