The Marshall County Council members spent several hours Monday discussing the proposed 2023 budget.
They were able to initially cut more than $670,000 from the budget which includes $459,000 out of the General Fund and $212,000 in special funds. However, a freeze in the commissioner wages and an ultimate decision on wage increases lowered the budget even further. The final number is being calculated.
The council voted to not only freeze the commissioner wages, but freeze the council wages to the 2022 amount. The council amount is $79,413. Councilman Heath Thornton commented that raises should be focused more on employees than those two branches of government authority.
The council also agreed to approve Prosecutor Nelson Chipman’s $10,000 increase in deputy prosecutor wages, and move two part-time positions into one full-time position. The council also increased the coroner’s pay to $40,000 a year.
As for wages for the rest of the employees, Councilman Tim Harman commented that the proposed $4,500 increase should be lowered and suggested a raise that is 75 percent of that number for full-time employees. However, Councilman Jon VanVactor fashioned a recommended pay increase that was distributed to the council for review prior to Monday’s budget discussion. Councilman Thornton said that VanVactor’s recommendation reflects more in line what the Salary Committee has been doing for the past several years. Some employees may see a little bit more of a boost, but it follows the categories set forth by wage consultants Wagonner, Irwin and Scheele. Part-time staff members would also get an increase.
The council members voted by majority to accept that proposal by VanVactor. Heath Thornton, Jim Masterson, Mandy Campbell, Jon VanVactor and Steve Harper voted yes, while Tim Harman and Jesse Bohannon voted no. Specific details of VanVactor’s recommendation were not immediately available.
The council agreed to not increase jail hours to 40 hours by a majority vote. Bohannon was the lone dissenting vote.
Finally, the council voted 5-2 to move jail operating funds from the General Fund to the Special Lit Fund. Jon VanVactor and Steve Harper voted against that action.
Beyond that, the Marshall County Solid Waste District submitted a budget of $464,333, Convention and Visitors Bureau submitted a budget of $386,500, and the East Shore Conservancy District submitted a bid of $366,960.
The budget adoption is set for October 10.
