Health and Welfare Committee members approved Warren County Animal Control’s proposed 2012-13 fiscal year budget Tuesday night, but a bite may come from the Budget and Finance Committee.
“I think that’s going to be a hard sell,” said Commissioner Blaine Wilcher, referring to pay raises for the two Animal Control employees.
To the statement, Commissioner Sally Brock added, “The bottom line is lower than it was last year. Maybe they will take that into consideration.”
Members were reviewing a proposed budget presented by Animal Control interim director Tammy Webb. Without salaries, the budget totaled $43,201, a $785 increase from last year.
Committee members approved the budget unanimously, with Commissioners Brock, Wilcher, Teddy Boyd, Billy Earl Jones and Diane Starkey voting in favor of it.
The problem lies in what was left out of the budget — salaries. Committee members increased the salaries of both director and assistant director. Pay for the director increased to $24,900 annually, up from $20,462. Pay for the assistant director increased to $8.50, a 50-cent increase. While the director is a salaried employee, the assistant gets paid hourly.
Despite the proposed salary increases, the budget’s bottom line is less than it was last year. In the 2011-12 budget, animal control was given $83,001. This year’s proposed budget is $81,361. Creating the reduction in the overall budget was the assistant going from 40 hours per week to 30 hours.
The need for a salary increase was prompted by a review of other like positions in the city and county. Brock says she reviewed those and the difference in salary was large.
“It’s pitiful,” said Brock. “The difference in salaries is huge. The county’s animal control director’s salary needs to be brought more in line with other departments. I think a salary increase is warranted in this situation.”
By city records, beginning salary for its animal control officer is $26,700. With only one on staff, that individual is also the director over the division under McMinnville Public Works.
According to Finance Department director Linda Hillis, there is no set beginning salary for department directors. The following are the salaries for full-time department directors, including when the current director was hired for the position:
• Airport director — $42,000 in 2011
• Codes and Environment director — $32,018 in 2008
• Director of Accounts — $55,892 in 1996
• Drug Court director — $49,005 in 2005
• Emergency Management Agency director — $26,951 in 2004
• Ambulance Service director — $50,168 in 2007
• Sanitation Department director — $47,821 in 1997
Elected positions, such as sheriff and road superintendent, are set by state statute. Warren County government has no control over salary.
The Health and Welfare Committee’s decision about the budget and salaries must be presented to the Budget and Finance Committee for its consideration. In the past, commissioners have given raises to county employees as a whole, not to specific individuals.