County finance committee debates pay for employees

Beaufort County Council's Finance Committee weighed in for the first time on fiscal 2009 budgets for the county and the school district Thursday, saying they will offer employees only modest cost-of-living increases next year.

In the district's presentation of its $167-million budget, superintendent Valerie Truesdale made the case for giving a 3.85 percent pay boost to employees in non-teaching positions: school nurses, secretaries, assistant principals and assistant teachers. Under state law, certified teachers are guaranteed that same increase as well as annual raises based on their level of experience.

Beaufort councilman Skeet Von Harten questioned that request, given that county employees wouldn't be getting comparable raises.

"Why should I give 3.85 to your non-certified (employees) and give my non-certifieds 2 percent?" he asked.

"I have to say that every kindergarten assistant is just as responsible for educating kids as the kindergarten teacher, as is the assistant principal, as is the secretary on the front desk, as is the nurse," Truesdale replied. "So I can't recommend anything other than what teachers have."

Von Harten was unmoved.

"How can I justify to the lady sitting right behind this wall right here that she only got 2, and everyone else got 3.85?" he asked.

"I won't. ... I won't say that to her."

Several other council members, including Laura Von Harten of Beaufort, indicated they would not approve a district budget that included such an increase.

Beaufort County Board of Education chairman Fred Washington sided with the council, saying he favored lowering the pay hike for non-teachers.

Washington said he would address the issue when the school board meets Tuesday to work on the budget. "I'm going to be unpopular with some staff members and some other folks, and I understand that," he said.

The council also discussed the county's preliminary $96-million budget.

Spending in the county's budget is up $300,000, which is a fraction of a percent over last year's budget. That modest rise is mainly the result of a decision to hold off on new equipment and vehicle purchases in light of slowing property tax revenues.

County administrator Gary Kubic asked for 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for county employees moments after many council members challenged Truesdale on her requests. Skeet Von Harten continued to push for a 2-percent across-the-board raise.

Finance committee chairman Stu Rodman of Hilton Head Island spoke in favor of the 2.5 percent figure, citing the effect of rising gasoline prices on county employees.

"I wouldn't want to balance the budget on the backs of our employees," he said.