2 percent raise approved for county employees

By John M. Ayers

The Gilchrist County Commission met on Thursday, Sept. 9, to hold a public hearing to consider the proposed tentative budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
The commission, by a 3-1 vote in August, had tentatively approved a $750 bonus, which would not be figured into the employees’ salary, but a one-time bonus for all county employees.
As the Thursday evening meeting was nearing its conclusion, Commissioner Tommy Langford made a motion to give the county employees a 2 percent pay raise and rescind the $750 bonus. Commissioner Randy Durden agreed and gave a second to the motion.
“I was opposed to the $750 bonus, and I can’t ask the people paying the bill to pay more,” said Chairman D. Ray Harrison, Jr.
Harrison called for a vote and the board approved the motion 4-1. Commissioner Harrison voted no on the motion.