Writer Says Pay For County Employees Needs Review

Dear Editor,

Recently I learned that our Montgomery County elected officials are each assigned as a “Department Liaison” in the many entities in county government. That individual is to represent that department and understand its duties and responsibilities. Those people assigned to each department are to interact with that department.

Having inquired within the county government center, few could recall the last time their assigned “liaison” appeared or spent time with its staff. None have spent the hours needed or attended a learning conference with staff to have a thorough understanding of the responsibilities of county government.

How can our elected officials understand the duties performed by the Assessor’s Office, Auditor’s Office and Treasurer’s Office? More than $100 million pass through county government each year.

There is more than pushing a pen across a piece of paper. Staff must understand county, state and federal government financial rules. Each year they spend hours at conferences reviewing just to keep up with changing laws and procedures to be implemented in their offices. Those individuals are responsible for keeping accurate records of those persons certified or those to renew or update certifications and licenses.

Our elected officials want everyone to believe that public safety is the highest priority. It may be when it comes to serving the public. But without the people in the county and city government offices, without that check being recorded and sent each week, our community would come to a standstill. The primary issue causing most of the problems in Montgomery County government is what is a sustainable wage. The county government does not believe all deserve a livable wage. A new hire at the assessor’s office makes $30,000 a year. A truck driver at the county government hires in at $42,000. There is something wrong with this picture. Until the county government reviews and brings all those up to a sustainable wage, we will continue to see a revolving door. The more individuals we hire, train, fit with uniforms and equip, plus schooling, only to find out six to 12 months later they will leave that position and travel to another county for $6,000 to $10,000 more.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the President of the County Council, David Hunt, hinted that a 4.9 percent pay increase was being discussed. That isn’t enough for those hiring at $30,000 a year. The assessor’s new hire will make $15 an hour. Why take a position demanding detail and certification to perform the most basic task in a government office?

An individual can step into a truck at the county highway department for $42,000 a year. With paid vacation, insurance and overtime. What will the county decide? No one at the county highway department has anything near the responsibility of those at the auditor, treasurer or assessor offices. What is a sustainable wage to keep qualified individuals in our community? The council awarded the Sherriff’s department a $9,000 increase for any new hire. In less than one hour, they ‘waved their magic wand and granted a windfall of cash to any new hire at the Sherriff’s department.

Politicians will say there is a bigger picture. Maybe so, but the question is, what is a sustainable wage for an entry-level position for a quality applicant in today’s economy at county government offices? Until we review the current wages of all those in surrounding counties and adjust our pay scale to equal those in other counties, we will continue to lose qualified individuals after their one to two-year probationary period to another county. The duties, questions and responsibilities to keep our community safe and qualified individuals here living in our community sit squarely on the shoulders of our elected Montgomery County Council.

DeAntha Wright-Thornburg

Crawfordsville