6.6% increase for HCFR

The Hernando County Commissioners took on a lively debate this morning about the projected employee wages for this year's budget. No decision will be made on the employee wages until September 12, 2007 at the Hernando County Commissioner's Regular Land Use Hearing, per a request made by Gary Kuhl, on behalf of the Commissioner Kingsley, who was absent from the meeting. The county commissioners had various view points on the information brought to them about the methodology of awarding raises by Ms. Dupree and Mr. Zoettlin, Hernando County Budget director.

During this morning's discussion, a thorough explanation was given by Barbara Dupree, Human Resource Director, in reference to the Bell Curve approach for departments giving raises to employees. Ms. Dupree informed the commissioners that each county employee would receive a 2% cost of living increase, with up to 1% merit increase based on job evaluations. This would mean some would receive less than the 3% increase while other would see more than 3% in their paychecks. Each department would "X" number of dollars to work with and the salary increases would be determined by job evaluations.

The information presented at this discussion included the salary increases for various departments and those of the constitutional officers. Hernando County Sheriff's Department has a 5.5% increase included in their budget this year. The Sheriff's Department will include the same cost of living increase as set by the county commissioners, as well as any Step raises per their contract negotiations. It must be noted that Richard Nugent kept this year's budget increase to the maximum 3% set by the Florida Legislature. Karen Nicolai, Clerk of Court, still has a 5% salary increase listed in her budget for her employees but indicated to the budget director that she would hold the increases to the limit eventually set by the Board of County Commissioners.

It was reported that Hernando County Fire Rescue would receive a Mercer increase this year but no percentage was mentioned in this meeting. Not one of the county commissioners bothered to ask Ms. Dupree what percent of increase the HCFR would be receiving this year. Finding this odd, I telephoned Ms. Dupree to ask those questions shortly after the conclusion of this meeting. The HCFR Mercer increase will be 6.6% this year. This Mercer increase was approved as a part of a 3 year contract, with this being the last year (of the contract). It must be noted that HCFR employees received approximately 5% increases in 2006 and 5% in 2005. It must be noted, again, that when comparing the current salaries of HCFR to neighboring counties like the Mercer Study claims to do, Hernando County Fire Rescue's beginning salary for firefighters is over $3,000.00 higher that the starting salaries in Citrus County, Polk County, Pasco County and Port Richey. In fact, HCFR is just $1,500.00 less that the starting salary of firefighters in the City of Tampa. This salary information does not include the additional increases of 6.6% for this year's salary increase for Hernando County Fire Rescue employees.

When comparing this 6.6% increase for Hernando County Fire Rescue with those other county employees that may receive a 2% cost of living increase it just doesn't seem to be fair. It is now quite clear why Chief Nickerson needed to pursue a 25% increase in the fire rates charged by HCFR. Funny thing is though, there has been absolutely no discussion on that additional reduction in our Ad Valorem to offset this 25% increase which was promised by Commissioner David Russell when he made the motion to approve the rate increase. We are still waiting, commissioners...