By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County employees will be getting a 2% cost of living increase beginning with the January 7, 2022 payroll, but the commission is still discussing what additional increases it can afford following the presentation of a wage study by The Arnold Group to the county commission on Tuesday.
"We need to develop something," said commission chair Ron Hirst. "I'm as tight as anybody, but I just think at some point in time, it's been too many years and we need to look at this."
The concern is that the majority of county employees are underpaid for their roles compared to the market, but commissioners are also concerned with the long term.
"There's enough money under consideration here to distort the annual budget of the county significantly," said commissioner Ron Sellers.
If the county upgrades the pay of all the employees that the study considered underpaid to the minimum reflected in the study, it could cost the county well over a million dollars to catch up and then they'd have that ongoing cost going forward, which could have a negative impact in years four and five of the budget if other budget cuts are not made.
All three commissioners agree there is a need, but they want more information from County Administrator Randy Partington on the particulars.
"I would love to see a report from the administrator that shows the uses of funds and at least we'll look at it, over a period of five years," said commissioner Daniel Friesen. "Whether he suggests using ARPA funds initially, cash reserves initially, the bottom line is eventually, we'll have to be self-sustaining."
Part of the motion for the cost of living increase committed the commission to looking at the additional increase issue by its final meeting in January of 2022, though they'd like to talk about it sooner if the report can be compiled sooner.