KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo County’s long awaited Wage Study has finally borne fruit.
The County Board of Commissioners have been clamoring for two years to raise wages to make county government salaries more competitive, with a crisis faced by the county juvenile home, the Sheriff’s Department and other county agencies who have been strapped for manpower due to their low pay.
Last night the Board of Commissioners approved a 2% boost in salary for all employees, and additional increases for those found to be underpaid by the study.
Administrator Kevin Catlin says the average increase for those getting additional hikes is just under 5%.
Commissioner Dale Shugars voted no, saying with $75 million tied up to fund the county’s new Justice Center, it could be a problem if housing prices plummet.
But most commissioners have been pushing hard for the raises, particularly for the lowest paid employees who were making less than $15 per hour.
The total cost of the wage increases will be around $1.8-million with funding coming from a variety of sources, including taxpayers, the American Rescue Plan Act, grants, and carryover funds.
If the unions accept the new wage scale, it will take effect January 1, 2023 for all employees.
They made an exception for Treasurer Thomas Whitener. The majority rejected a separate request to also boost his salary. Whitener has been criticized for getting some financial reports to commissioners late.
(reporting from John McNeill)
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