The Calvert County Commissioners unanimously indicated support Nov. 13 for a one-time incentive pay for county government employees. Final action on the nearly $900,000 budget adjustment and pay plan will likely happen Dec. 4.
The action was proposed by the Department of Finance and Budget and was prompted by the fact the commissioners have been unable to give employees pay step increases and cost of livings adjustments (COLAs) since fiscal year (FY) 2009.
During discussion of the issue, one county commissioner reprised his lamentation of the current government budget process, prompting dissenting opinions from other board members.
“This is not necessarily a good news item on our agenda,” said Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R]. “Morale doesn’t improve by playing Santa Claus and handing out presents. We have areas of wasteful spending.” The commissioner was critical of the county government’s strategy of “doing things the way we always have.” Slaughenhoupt indicated he would support the proposal but added, “my vote comes with these concerns.”
“I disagree with your characterization that we’re doing things the way we have always done them,” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R], who added that significantly lower property tax revenue and the state’s shifting the funding responsibilities of teacher pensions have fiscally challenged county government. “We could do nothing but we’ve chosen to give the bonuses this year.”
Shaw also disputed Slaughenhoupt’s claim that there was low morale among county employees.
Slaughenhoupt’s comments drew an even sharper rebuke from Commissioners’ President Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R]. “I know where the money comes from in the budget,” said Clark, who characterized Slaughenhoupt’s calls for “cost-cutting” as just another way of calling for employee cuts.
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