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To the Editor:

In response to the April 4 letter submitted by Judy Kerr:

In recent years, Grant County has struggled to produce a balanced budget; funding is short, and costs are rising. The County Budget Committee has been forced to consider drastic measures, including eliminating whole departments. To date, most jobs and departments have survived, but savings must be realized for the county to continue to maintain services at the current level.

Enter the Wage Scale Committee. The five-member committee met over a period of eight months and determined that a step scale, common among government agencies, would meet their objectives; save money, improve fairness, provide ease of use, and fit Grant County’s specific needs. The county’s current payroll model offers no differentiation between a starting wage and the wage received by a long-term employee. A step scale uses a lower starting wage that increases over time. Savings are realized through attrition, by implementing a reduced salary for new employees and holding current employees harmless. The committee was motivated to achieve results in this budget year due to the potential turnover of three to five elected positions and two or three non-elected positions.

Some opposed to the step scale cited the need for a compensation study to be done by an outside agency at a cost of between $20,000 and $50,000. As a committee, we simply believed that a well-rounded group of experienced employees, with no other motivation than to be fiscally responsible and save co-workers’ jobs, could come together and provide solutions for our own problems.

Grant County has 16 different committees or boards that function by use of volunteers. Each committee is tasked with providing information or recommendations to the county court. They all function simultaneously, and nothing that the Wage Scale Committee did interfered with another committee. The members of the county’s committees give their time and expertise to contribute to the well-being of Grant County. If you know one of these volunteers, say thanks. If you would like to be a part of one of these groups, you can contact the county court office at 541-575-0059.

Kathy Stinnett

John Day