• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem!
    • Login / Sign-up
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Pay hike of five percent suggested at county

Ivan Foley by Ivan Foley
November 25, 2012
in Platte County
29
SHARES
737
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

In the eyes of Kevin Robinson, Platte County auditor, five years without a pay raise for county employees has been long enough. In his recommended budget for 2013, Robinson advocates a five percent pay increase across the board for county employees.

Cost of the pay hike to taxpayers would be $425,000, Robinson says, including payroll taxes and benefits.

RelatedNews

Hunters can take advantage of coyote control season

Quilt for an injured cop

Republican women’s group to meet Jan. 27

Robinson recommends using $425,000 of what he says is an estimated $2 million in “cash-carryover” funds to cover the costs of his recommended pay raise for employees.

Robinson’s proposal is just that–an auditor’s recommended budget that begins the process of the county officials formulating a 2013 budget. The next major step in the process will occur after the first of the year, when Jason Brown, presiding commissioner, and newly-elected associate commissioners Duane Soper and Beverlee Roper will review proposed budgets with respective officeholders and department heads.

Roper and Soper will become official members of the commission on Jan. 1, replacing Kathy Dusenbery and Jim Plunkett.

Approval of a final budget is required to take place by Jan. 30.

In promoting the concept of a five percent raise for employees, Robinson took into account the length of time since the last pay increase.

“It has been five years–if they don’t get one this year it would be the sixth year without a raise,” he said. “I’m recommending a 5% cost of living allowance adjustment, equal to less than 1% per year over the past five years.

“The cost of turnover, a real cost of doing business recognized by private sector employers, the county experienced in 2012 alone exceeds the cost of the COLA in recruiting and training, not to mention the lost experience, expertise, and overtime paid to cover shifts, particularly in law enforcement and patrol officers,” Robinson remarked.

Brown, reached by The Landmark on Monday, said he had not yet had time to review Robinson’s recommended budget, which was released Friday.

“That’s what he has said he is recommending. A budget document is a work in progress,” Brown pointed out.

Brown said there are two things of which he feels certain.

“Number one is that we will pass a balanced budget and number two, it probably won’t make everybody happy. And I’m not being disrespectful by saying that. Everybody is going to ask for different things. We’ll look at the needs that we have and how to pay for those needs. We’ll go through line item by line item,” he added.

In his budget message, Robinson criticized the county commission.

“During the past two years, a lack of business acumen has been demonstrated by the majority of the commission, resulting in a politically charged, unsustainable budget philosophy. This has put the county in a critical position, limiting the available options to address the federally mandated unfunded radio system,” he said.

Earlier this year in a Landmark article, Robinson said the commission’s budget philosophy was “unsustainable.”

In 2011, Robinson said he certified the agreement with Motorola on the radios, based on a reasonable assurance funding would be available through the property tax levy.

“In September of this year at the annual tax levy public hearing, the commission elected not to raise the levy five points as needed to generate $1.1 million per year, beginning one year before the first $1.2 million payment is due on Feb. 1, 2014. State law allows an increase of the levy in even numbered years only. The levy cannot be raised until September 2014,” Robinson said.

“The levy was the safety net to pay for that. If they didn’t want to take a tax to the people, it should have been raised this year,” the auditor told The Landmark this week.

The commission in September lowered the property tax levy from two cents per $100 assessed valuation to one cent per $100 assessed valuation.

In 2013, there is an interest-only payment of $256,000, along with about $100,000 over the year in lease and utility payments associated with the emergency radio system.

That payment will be covered by moving the balance, roughly $900,000, of what is known as the KCP&L fund into the radio system fund.

The $900,000 was the balance of construction permit fees paid by KCP&L not spent on construction management or inspections associated with construction of the Iatan II project, Robinson said.1

“The prior commission’s intent to fund this project and other mandates through the general fund without taking the appropriate, politically difficult, action to raise the levy is unreasonable. Continuing on the current unsustainable course of dependency on the general fund will deplete cash and in 2017, the county will not be able to meet its financial obligations and the two known federally mandated unfunded programs–health care reform and radios,” Robinson stated.

Also of note in his recommended budget, Robinson establishes funding of $24,000 for a housekeeping position and another $24,000 for reestablishing a receptionist in the administration building, positions that were eliminated in the 2012 budget.

“The combination of personnel and service point’s reductions has resulted in cutting services to the citizens, not the best use of the county’s resources. The effect of these cuts is a $45,000, or more, technical staff member taking out trash and vacuuming the office. The end result is not a cost reduction as intended, but increased cost shifted from administration to the offices and departments,” Robinson said.

“The evidence of the decision is apparent throughout the facilities. The place is not clean like it was when I got here two years ago. Carpets are not shampooed, there’s dust. . .” the auditor told The Landmark on Monday.

Tags: IatanKathy Dusenberyparkvilleplatte countytaxes
Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley

Ivan Foley, owner/publisher of the Platte County Landmark, has been on the news beat in Kansas City's Northland for 40 years. He provides weekly observations in his Between the Lines column and serves as host of Landmark Live, a light-hearted videocast featuring newsmakers in the Northland.

Related Posts

45 Years Ago–May 13, 1977

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Dr. Carl Myers purchase the Platte Medical Clinic in Platte City this week and plans to open his office here in the near future. Dr. Nourbaksh will continue to be located in the Platte Medical Clinic. Mr. and Mrs. Louis...

30 Years Ago–May 15, 1992

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Bob Foster, vice principal of Fort Osage Junior High in northeast Independence, has been hired as principal at West Platte High School in Weston. Two girls tied with the same grade point average have been declared valedictorians of the class...

15 Years Ago–May 9, 2007

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

It has been a hectic week for Platte County residents and business owners with property in low-lying areas, as heavy rains across the region have forced rivers and streams out of their banks. Areas in and around Parkville, Riverside, Tracy...

The 80's

Kim Carnes and never buy gas on Tuesdays

by Ivan Foley
May 13, 2022
0

Gonna hit you with some pop culture stuff this week. Just because I want to. Season four of Ozark on Netflix. Have you finished it yet? Let's get through this without spoiling it for those who haven't made it all...

Next Post

Search is on for elderly Platte City man wanted in tennessee

Popular News

  • Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    Area distillery releases first new bourbon in 30 years

    22 shares
    Share 9 Tweet 6
  • Bee Creek Bridge replacement set

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Large logistics park planned east of I-29

    198 shares
    Share 79 Tweet 50
  • Memorial Day Weekend Celebration planned

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • City extends lease on temporary police station

    7 shares
    Share 3 Tweet 2
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Pickem Terms and Conditions
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe Online
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Pickem
    • Results by Week
    • Pickem Rules and Help
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • es_MXSpanish

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?