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Butler County commissioners on Thursday abolished automatic pay raises for 240 non-union employees under their control in a measure that is expected to save $3 million over five years, according to a report on Cincinnati.com.

Reporter Sheila McLaughlin cover the story for the Cincinnati Enquirer:

The new system – developed by Clemans Nelson and Associates, the Loveland firm hired to conduct the $100,000 pay study for commissioners – eliminates annual “step” increases and creates unified pay scales so that workers with comparable jobs are paid similar wages.

Workers will receive raises based on general percentage increases approved by commissioners or through performance-based raises for exceptional work.

Clemans Nelson first presented the plan to commissioners in February but since has revised the report after collaborating with county human resources officials to adjust some job descriptions.

Commissioner Don Dixon, who proposed the pay study in 2009 as the county continued to grapple with budget woes, called the change “exciting.”

“It takes us from a step every year increase if you’re just here,” Dixon said. “It’s a monumental step. It will completely change the way we do business. But the whole world has changed from the way we used to do business.”

For the entire story, visit Cincinnati.com’s post “Butler Co. to nix some pay raises to save $3M.”

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Tags: Tags: Butler County Commissioners, Clemans Nelson & Associates, Don Dixon, merit raises, raises, step raises

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees approved and authorized its township administrator to give merit raises up to four percent to all qualified non-contract exempt and non-exempt employees at its meeting Tuesday, June 28.

The raises can be authorized in the first full-pay period in July and includes a 3-mill increase to the payment pool for non-contract employees.

The merit-based system was originally approved by the trustees in Feb. 2006 and only awards raises to employees, who are considered “top performers.”

West Chester Township, unlike other communities, does not offer step-pay increases.

The board passed the motion for merit raises up to four percent on Tuesday by way of a 2-to-1 vote.

Trustee George Lang opposed the raises and showed concern that the decrease in the local government fund, decreasing property taxes and the recent loss of local businesses could cause a “perfect storm for negativity for local government finances.”

“The private sector has to support the government,” Lang said. “If we continue to allow government to grow, as the private sector downsizes – it is an unsustainable formula. I would just recommend that we take a year off for pay raises for our non-contract employees.”

Meanwhile, fellow trustees Catherine Stoker and Lee Wong shared their appreciation for the merit-based program and believe the township needs to “incentivize” its non-contract employees.

“I think that it is important that we keep our employees innovative and sharp and constantly looking to do better,” Stoker said. “We can’t just beat them with a stick and say ‘no, we are not going to do anything.’”

Posted in: Board of Trustees, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: board of trustees, Catherine Stoker, George Lang, government, government raises, Lee Wong, merit raises, raises, West Chester Board of Trustees, West Chester Township Board of Trustees

According to Cincinnati.com, a company hired to study pay rates for non-union workers in five Butler County departments recommended Monday, Dec. 20, that the county abolish its step system and create unified pay scales so people with comparable jobs get comparable pay.

A portion of the article read:

Officials with Clemans Nelson & Associates Inc. told county commissioners that scales are out of whack between departments and some jobs were over the top of what other counties pay employees for the same positions.

Changing the wage system would save the county about $220,000 the first year and about $2.5 million in five years, said Kelly Babcock of Clemans Nelson.

Commissioners, who are looking for ways to reduce costs in the wake of two years of budget woes, took no action Monday. They said they want to see the raw numbers first.

At least one commissioner, who pushed for the wage study, indicated he was in favor of the concept.

“Pay for performance is clearly where we need to go,” Commissioner Don Dixon said. “Everybody used to get a step if you were breathing and you were here. You got a step if you were alive.”

Clemans Nelson & Associates was paid about $100,000 for conducting the study, according to the Cincinnati.com report.

For more on the story, visit Cincinnati.com.

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Tags: Tags: Butler County, Butler County Commissioners, Clemans Nelson & Associates, Commissioners, raises, step raises