Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@wolfrivermedia.com
The Shawano County Board on Wednesday approved the recommendations of a wage study that will jack up most county employees’ pay anywhere from a few cents to more than $4 per hour.
The updated wage and classification structure will take effect Jan. 1.
“I think this is sustainable,” County Board Chairman Jerry Erdmann said. “You treat your employees like they make a difference, they will.”
The estimated cost of implementing the wage study will be $202,723, which was included in the 2015 budget approved by the board this week.
Supervisors rejected an amendment that would have allowed the county to implement the recommendations over two years for employees receiving raises of $2 or more per hour. Fourteen employees were in the category where their salaries were well below market value.
Supervisor Bonnie Olson, one of four supervisors who voted against implementing the study, said she felt it would be easier financially for the county to have more time to increase the salaries.
“I think that those who might get a $4 an hour raise, it’s a big step in one year,” Olson said.
Supervisor Kathy Luebke was among those who disagreed with Olson.
“All these employees have been shortchanged for years. Why make them wait another year?” Luebke said.
One change was made to the document originally endorsed by the Finance Committee on Oct. 13. Employee appeals of wage and job classifications will be heard by a committee made up of the chairmen of the county’s key committees.
The study conducted by Carlson Dettmann Consulting LLC recommended that employee appeals be heard by the Administrative Committee.
The board hired Carlson Dettmann in December 2013 to conduct the study. Consultant Barb Petkovsek presented the study recommendations to the board in September.
Shawano County was paying at 95.7 percent of the market average in wages, according to Petkovsek.