Thanks to a larger than projected ending fund balance, Lyon County appointed department heads will get a similar one-time1-percent lump sum bonus in their pre-Christmas paycheck as unionized county employees.

A request to also include the Justices of the Peace was rejected.

The request to award the bonus to the appointed department heads was to insure they receive a similar salary adjustment as unionized and non-unionized employees.

In an effort to encourage departments to tighten their spending habits during the current budget crunch, as part of current collective bargaining agreement Lyon County Commissioners promised that if the 2008-09 General Fund ending balance came in at $225,000 or higher than budgeted, all full and part-time employees would get a one-time 1-percent lump sum bonus payment.  A similar agreement was reached for the County Manager during his annual evaluation. Appointed department heads were not included.

The audited ending fund balance came in approximately $1.25 million higher than budgeted.

The additional bonus payments to the appointed department heads will cost $14,873.44.  Human Resources Director Steve Englert said the County is leaning toward the lump sum bonus process as a cost saving measure, “As a way to slow our salary growth and still give something.”  The bonuses will not impact the employees’ future retirement benefits.

At the recommendation of Englert, Comptroller Josh Foli and County Manager Dennis Stark, the Justices of the Peace were also included in the request because the last increase in salary for the Justices was in January 2007; however, the board decided against including them.

Appointed department head salaries are determined by the County Commissioners.  The salaries of elected department heads are set by State Statute.  The Justices of the Peace are the only elected officials whose salaries are set by the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Phyllis Hunewill said the Board could consider salary issues for the Justices during the upcoming budget discussions, noting, “We don’t have any control over them or assess their performance.  The voters do.”

Commissioner Don Tibbals, citing the high county unemployment rate and decreasing tax base, spoke against the one-time bonus.

“I don’t think we should give any.  Everyone who comes in here says they don’t have any money.  Our tax base is going down, down, down,” Tibbals said.  “I think we ought to put a lid on it and stop the spending when we don’t have to do it.  The people will survive without the 1-percent and we will probably survive if we give it, but I am against it.”

Resident Irvin Hills agreed with Tibbals, and spoke specifically against including the justices.

“If you pay the JP’s, you should include all elected officials,” he told the board.

Human Resources Director Steve Englert argued the bonus was set up as an incentive to all employees and department heads as an incentive, and the increased ending fund balance was because of their efforts.

Commissioner Chuck Roberts' motion to award the bonus to the appointed Department Heads only, excluding the Justices of the Peace, passed 4-1, Commissioner Tibbals opposed.